Power production from hydropower plants in Khuzestan Province has hit rock bottom, a deputy manager of the provincial power company said.
“Several hydroelectric power plants, including Karoun 1, Karoun 3, Karoun 4 and Masjed Soleyman, have gone off the grid because of water shortage in dams,” Kioumars Zamani was also quoted as saying by ISNA.
Karkheh and Dez dams in the southwestern province, which overflowed two years ago due to torrential and unprecedented rainfall, are now half empty and have difficulty supplying water not only for drinking but also for power generation, he added.
While the average level of water in Dez Dam is 350 meters, the figure is now below 330 meters.
“If the focus is only on power generation, the water level should not go below 320 meters, but now we have accepted the risk and if necessary, we will continue power production up until the level reaches 305 meters,” Zamani said.
The decline in precipitation in the current water year (started September 2020) has worsened the drought facing the country for years, which consequently caused water stress.
“Because the temperature has decreased by 5 degrees Celsius to reach 46, power load has declined to 7,700 megawatts that is still high. When the temperature rises to 50 degrees Celsius, electricity consumption peaks at 8,500 MW,” he said.
Iran is located in an arid and semi-arid region. Close to 150 urban and rural areas were on the verge of water tension last summer, which is projected to cross 210 this year.
The Energy Ministry’s data show that close to 30 million people are struggling with varying degrees of water scarcity and related challenges that have only deteriorated.
According to water authorities, at least 210 cities will encounter heightened water tension until September and in more than 7,000 rural districts, potable water will be supplied via tankers during the next two months.
