Fajr Energy Persian Gulf Company, in collaboration with industries in the Petrochemical Special Economic Zone, is set to establish a large-scale desalination plant with a daily capacity of 500,000 cubic meters.
As reported by the company's public relations, this initiative comes in response to national policies on industrial water consumption, changes in precipitation patterns, and rising temperatures, especially in southern Iran. Safeguarding water resources has become a critical priority for the industry.
Currently, most of the water for industries in the zone is supplied by Fajr Energy, sourced primarily from the Karun River. However, climate change has negatively impacted the river’s quality and volume. Continuing to draw water from Karun poses a threat to the river's health, reduces the company’s water production capacity, and will likely increase costs for consumers.
To mitigate these risks, support the environmental health of southern Khuzestan, and reduce reliance on Karun, Fajr Energy plans to build the desalination plant. This project aligns with the broader strategy of expanding sea-based economic development in Iran, utilizing the vast capacity of seawater.
The projected cost of the desalination plant is over 340 trillion rials, with detailed planning and feasibility studies already completed by Fajr engineers. However, the project requires significant investment and cooperation from all stakeholders, as well as support from higher authorities, to ensure its success.
The Karun River, essential to more than 20 cities in Khuzestan, stands to benefit from this initiative, securing a more sustainable future for the region’s water resources.