Discover Iran: Masjed Soleyman, birthplace of Iran’s oil industry and industrial revolution

By Maryam Qarehgozlou

• A city of many firsts, Masjed Soleyman is the birthplace of Iran’s oil industry and home to ancient Elamite and Parthian ruins, blending industrial legacy with deep historical roots.
• The city is the site of the first oil well in West Asia, drilled in 1908 by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later BP), which marked a turning point in global energy history.
• The city is historically inhabited by the Bakhtiari tribe, who played a pivotal role in the Constitutional Revolution and the early development of Iran’s oil industry.

Masjed Soleyman, an ancient city in southwestern Iran’s Khuzestan province, stands as a powerful testament to both the rich history and the industrial progress of the Iranian nation.

It is one of the earliest inhabited settlements in the region and the site of West Asia’s first oil well discovery in 1908, courtesy of an Anglo-Persian oil company.

Nestled among the Zagros Mountains, the city’s rich history dates back to the Elamite period and experiences an arid climate characterized by scorching hot summers.

The Karun River, originating from the Zagros, serves as the city’s most significant waterway, while the Tembi River flows through its southern area. Parks and recreational spaces along these rivers are popular destinations for local and foreign visitors.

In 1955, French archaeologist Roman Ghirshman conducted excavations in the area and discovered a cave believed to have been inhabited by humans over ten thousand years ago.

Additionally, an ancient hill named Sarmasjed in the city’s northeast is home to a fire temple dating back to the Persian era (ancient Iran). This temple is thought to be the birthplace of Teispes (Chishpesh) I, ancestor of Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty.

On May 26, 1908, oil gushed from Well No. 1 in Masjed Soleyman, marking the birth of Iran’s oil industry. This made the city home to the oldest oil field in Iran and West Asia. The discovery transformed the region into one of the country’s most important economic and social centers.

Following the completion of the Masjed Soleyman to Abadan pipeline in 1912, the city entered a period of rapid growth. Oil production rose dramatically—from 43,000 tons in 1912 to over four million tons by 1925.

Masjed Soleyman remained Iran’s sole source of oil until 1928, when production began at the Haftgel oil field.

In March 2024, marking the 73rd anniversary of Iran’s oil industry nationalization, the Iranian Oil Ministry and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) signed a $13 billion contract to develop six oil fields.

The goal was to boost the country’s daily oil production by 350,000 barrels, relying primarily on domestic expertise. Notably, the agreement includes the development of the second phase of the Masjed Soleyman oil field.

The first phase was executed by CNPC International (CNPCI), a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation, under a buyback contract. In the second phase, Iranian experts took the lead, demonstrating Iran’s advancements in upstream exploration and production (E&P).

With an estimated 6.2 billion barrels of oil in place (OIP), approximately 1.3 billion barrels have already been recovered from the Masjed Soleyman field.

Beyond its oil industry significance, Masjed Soleyman serves as a key industrial hub.

It hosts major industrial facilities such as the Karun Cement Factory and the Masjed Soleyman Dam and Power Plant, which ranked first nationwide in electricity generation for three consecutive years starting in 2013, as well as the Masjed Soleyman Oil and Gas Production Company.

Other important sites in this pioneering city include the Shahid Farrokhnia Tank Manufacturing Plant, Masjed Soleyman Gas Refinery, the large-scale Masjed Soleyman Petrochemical Plant, aluminum factories, and more.

Interestingly, Masjed Soleyman is notable for its connection to numerous regional “firsts.”

The city is home to the first oil refinery in Iran and West Asia, initially serving as the primary refining site for crude oil in the region.

Masjed Soleyman also established the first oil production unit in Iran and West Asia, operated by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company to manage the extraction and processing of crude oil.

The city was home to the “Bibayan” sulfur production plant, the first of its kind in both Iran and West Asia, and in 1918, Iran’s first water treatment plant was built in the Tel Bozan area of Masjed Soleyman.

Discover Iran

🇮🇷 DISCOVER IRAN | Masjed Soleyman, Khuzestan, Iran ✴️ Where: Masjed Soleyman, northern Khuzestan province, Iran ✳️ What: A city of firsts — birthplace of Iran’s oil industry and home to ancient...

Following the drilling of the city’s third oil well in October 1908, the Tembi Power Plant was constructed, becoming one of the earliest thermal power stations in Iran and West Asia.

Masjed Soleyman also hosted Iran’s first railway, a 55-kilometer line connecting Darb-Khazineh to Masjed Soleyman via Ahvaz. Built to transport drilling equipment and steam boilers, this pioneering railway played a crucial role in regional industrial development.

In addition, the city became the site of Iran’s first airport. Following the discovery of oil, a high-level research team arrived by airplane to conduct surveys and technical studies.

Their landing marked the first aircraft arrival in Masjed Soleyman and led to the establishment of what is now known as Shahid Asyabi Airport, serving the Iranian Army’s Ground Force Aviation Unit (Havanirooz).

Over a century ago, Masjed Soleyman also saw the construction of Iran and West Asia’s first and tallest metal bridge over the Tembi River, further cementing its place in the region’s industrial history.

The city is credited with numerous other national and regional firsts, including:

• Iran’s first and most advanced hospital
• First pasteurized milk factory
• First cycling track
• First golf club
• First swimming pool
• First plaster factory
• First official football field
• First cable car in Iran and West Asia
• First geological museum

As the birthplace of so many pioneering facilities and institutions, Masjed Soleyman stands as a foundational cornerstone in Iran’s industrial, scientific, and social history.

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