Construction of Karkheh power plant started in the middle of the Iranian calendar year 1976 (1997-98) and its first 133-MW unit was made operational after five and a half years last September. A report issued by the Public Relations Department of Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company announced Thursday that the second unit of the plant came on-stream in January 2003 and the third unit was made operational in June 2003. The two units have a total capacity of 400 MW. Karkheh power plant which is capable of producing 934 gigawatts/hour hydropower per year uses water stored behind Karkheh dam for electricity generation. President Khatami is expected to inaugurate several industrial units during his upcoming one-day visit to Khuzestan.