Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 2, 1989

At eight o'clock in the morning, we flew in helicopters with [Mr. Gholamreza Aghazadeh, Gholamreza Faruzesh and Bijan Namdar Zanganeh] the Ministers of Oil, Jihad Construction and Power, to visit construction projects and oil, water and land reconstructions. Over the region, Mr. Zanganeh gave good explanations about Dez, Karun and Karkheh areas.

In Maron region, we visited the project of gas injection into oil tanks. Gas is taken from Paznan and injected into Maron. Two centers have been established for this work, which is expensive and complicated. Our experts have good strength and skill in maintaining, renovating and completing designs, which is admirable. Foreigners did not think that we could do these things ourselves. During the period of revolution and war, foreign contractors abused and did not fulfill their obligations. I told Mr. Aghazadeh [Oil Minister] to deforest the area; Currently, it is dry and desert.

From there we flew to Behbahan. We visited the Shuhada diversion dam, which directs the water of the Maroon river to the construction channels. It has been done by construction jihad. With the completion of the reservoir dam and regulatory dams of the Maron project, about 50,000 hectares of land in the region will be rehabilitated. They said that they have discovered an ancient city right next to the Shahada Dam.

We went to the place of the tank dam in Tekap Gorge. Tunnels and access roads are done. The studies have been completed and it is intended to be carried out by Jihad Sazandagi. About one billion and a half meters of stored water and one hundred and fifty megawatts of electricity are obtained; Their work is interesting. Inscriptions of historical events have been installed in the gorge, which show the repelling of enemy encroachments in this gorge in the past.

We went to Behbahan cement factory guesthouse for lunch and prayer. We visited the factory at three in the afternoon. They used to develop up to six thousand tons of cement per day. Currently, they have a capacity of three thousand tons, but it is designed for ten thousand tons.

We flew to Haft Tepe. He explained in the office of the CEO. They have about ten thousand hectares of sugarcane, one hundred thousand tons of sugar and three hundred thousand tons of bagasse per year. Pars paper mill produces about seventy thousand tons of paper. There were a lot of war damages, but they were rebuilt quickly. Two of the three paper production lines have not yet been fully restored. They are waiting for parts. Their work saves a lot of money.

We arrived at the base at eight in the evening. The families of the martyrs of Andimeshk and Shush had come. I spoke for them in the amphitheater. We returned to the headquarters. A group of women from the base came to see Eft and the accompanying women. I was tired Timsar [Habib] Baqai came and told the financial needs of the soldiers.