Official statistics reveal a critical decrease in Iran’s dam water reserves, primarily attributed to the overgeneration of hydroelectric power during the summer. The country, grappling with prolonged droughts and water shortages for two decades, is also contending with a substantial electricity deficit in the summer and a gas shortage in the winter.
As reported by ISNA on Sunday, December 17, data on the operation of Iran’s reservoir dams indicates that the water volume is currently at only 40% capacity. Despite a 7% increase in water inflow compared to the same period last year, the outflow has surged by 22%, resulting in a reduction of one billion cubic meters in water reserves.
The report does not provide an explanation for the Ebrahim Raisi Administration’s decision to permit a 22% increase in dam water discharge. However, insights from the Ministry of Energy‘s power generation data indicate a compensatory effort to address the summer electricity shortfall by significantly boosting hydroelectric power production from dams.
In recent years, Iran has struggled to meet its electricity generation growth targets, deepening the country’s electricity shortfall. During the first seven months of the current fiscal year, around 1,000 megawatts of new power plants were launched, with a minimal portion—35 megawatts—from solar and wind, and 116 megawatts from “combined cycle” with relatively high efficiency.
Despite the administration’s plan to introduce over 6,000 megawatts of new power plants this year, with half being renewables, the latest Ministry of Energy report indicates that only 15% of the target has been achieved in the first eight months. Most new power plants are thermal and operate with low efficiency, utilizing natural gas, mazut, and diesel.
The surge in hydroelectric power generation, witnessing a 57% increase this year compared to the same period last year, exceeds the growth in water inflow by only 7%. This strategy has led to the depletion of dam reservoirs, exacerbating the country’s water crisis.
Despite Iran’s 300 sunny days annually, solar and wind energy contribute only around half a percent to the country’s electricity production. Nuclear energy accounts for just over one percent. The government’s goal to launch over 2,600 megawatts of solar and wind power plants this year has seen only 1% realization in the first eight months.
The intricate link between water resource management and energy production highlights a serious challenge, with Iran facing both a significant electricity deficit and a decline in dam water supplies. The government’s reliance on hydroelectric overgeneration to address immediate energy needs raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of these critical resources.