Isfahan seawater transfer project powers sustainable industrial growth, water security

By Ivan Kesic

On December 6, 2025, a landmark chapter in Iran’s pursuit of water security was opened, marking a strategic shift from traditional reliance on natural water sources to engineered innovation for one of the country’s most vital industrial hubs.

The formal launch of the Isfahan seawater transfer project represents a monumental engineering feat – a sophisticated response to the acute hydrological challenges confronting the country’s central plateau.

It is fitting to explore the vision, scale, and transformative potential of this initiative, which channels desalinated water from the Sea of Oman across 800 kilometers of demanding terrain to sustain Isfahan’s industrial strength.

By examining the project’s ambitious phasing, core technologies, and its role as a catalyst for economic stability, the narrative reveals a calculated, forward-looking approach to national resource management.

This endeavor is more than just an infrastructure project. It is a declaration of intent and resilience, a testament to domestic industrial capability, and a proactive model for securing sustainable development in an era of climatic uncertainty.

Vision forged in necessity and strategic will

The genesis of the Isfahan seawater transfer project lies in a clear-eyed recognition of an escalating environmental reality.

For years, the iconic Zayandeh River – the lifeblood of Isfahan and other central provinces – has faced severe strain from prolonged drought and increasing demand, with flows diminished to levels insufficient to reliably sustain the province’s heavy industrial base.

This water scarcity posed a direct threat to economic stability, employment, and the continued operation of cornerstone enterprises such as Mobarakeh Steel Company, West Asia’s largest steel producer, and the major Isfahan Oil Refinery.

In response, a strategic national decision was made to look beyond traditional freshwater sources and instead tap into the vast, perennial reserves of the Sea of Oman.

Initiated with detailed planning in 2018 and entering physical construction in autumn 2022, the project embodies a long-term vision to decouple critical industrial water supply from the volatile hydrological cycles of the arid interior, thereby creating a new paradigm for regional water security.

Engineering on a grand scale: the anatomy of a megaproject

The sheer physical dimensions of the undertaking underscore its status as one of the most significant infrastructural accomplishments in the wider West Asia region.

The initial operational phase involves an 800-kilometer pipeline network, a steel artery stretching from the coastal intake facilities at Sirik in Hormozgan province to the industrial zones south of Isfahan.

This conduit is engineered to handle a formidable hydraulic challenge, lifting desalinated water over a total elevation gain approaching 3,400 meters through a series of dedicated pumping stations and intermediate storage tanks.

The project's design is the product of extensive study, with more than 20 potential routes meticulously evaluated before selecting the optimal path through Kerman and Yazd provinces, a route chosen for its superior water quality parameters and favorable engineering characteristics.

The heart of the system lies in state-of-the-art reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants on the Sirik coast, employing advanced membrane technology to transform seawater into a high-quality resource suitable for industrial processes.

This integrated system, encompassing intake, desalination, pumping, storage, and distribution, represents a masterclass in complex systems engineering executed on a national scale.

Phased implementation and expanding capacity

The project has been structured with deliberate, scalable phases to ensure manageability and allow for capacity growth in line with demand.

The first phase delivers a substantial initial volume of approximately 40 million cubic meters of water annually, flowing at a rate of 0.6 cubic meters per second to primary industrial consumers.

This volume provides immediate relief, significantly reducing the reliance of major facilities on the stressed Zayandeh River. The project blueprint, however, envisions a far greater capacity.

A second phase is designed to increase annual transfers to 70 million cubic meters, with the long-term potential to scale up to 200 million cubic meters per year, and ultimately to a visionary 400 million cubic meters as part of a broader national water strategy.

This phased approach demonstrates a methodical and sustainable planning philosophy, allowing for the integration of operational learnings and the measured expansion of infrastructure in harmony with industrial growth and evolving water security needs.

Collaborative model of investment and implementation

A distinctive and commendable aspect of the Isfahan water transfer project is its innovative funding and execution model, which leverages national industrial capacity and fosters direct stakeholder investment.

Rather than relying solely on central government expenditure, the project has been significantly financed and driven by its primary beneficiaries.

The Mobarakeh Steel Company, for instance, provided a crucial material contribution of 0.61 million metric tons of steel required for making the massive pipelines, showcasing a powerful synergy between industrial output and critical infrastructure development.

The executing entity, the Isfahan Sofeh Water Supply Company (IWASCO), is itself a consortium of major provincial stakeholders, including Mobarakeh Steel, the Isfahan Oil Refinery, the Zob Ahan complex, the Chamber of Commerce, and municipal organizations.

This structure ensures that the project is closely aligned with the precise needs of its users and fosters a profound sense of ownership and commitment among the very industries whose future it secures, creating a robust partnership model for national development.

Securing economic vitality and industrial continuity

The paramount benefit of this engineering marvel is the direct safeguarding of Isfahan's industrial ecosystem.

By providing a stable, drought-proof water supply, the project guarantees the operational continuity of energy-intensive and water-dependent industries that are pillars of the regional and national economy.

For Mobarakeh Steel and the Isfahan refinery, the secure water source translates into enhanced production stability, greater long-term planning certainty, and the protection of thousands of skilled jobs.

This reliability is invaluable for maintaining Iran's industrial output and export potential in key sectors.

Furthermore, by liberating a portion of the remaining freshwater resources from industrial demand, the project indirectly contributes to a more balanced hydrological equation for the region, potentially alleviating pressure on aquifers and creating space for more sustainable management of the Zayandeh basin for agricultural and municipal uses over the long term.

Testament to national capability and forward-looking resilience

Beyond its immediate practical utility, the Isfahan seawater transfer project stands as a profound and powerful symbol of national determination and technological self-reliance.

In the face of environmental adversity and complex geopolitical circumstances, the project illustrates a capacity for conceiving and executing solutions of breathtaking ambition.

It reflects a strategic shift from reactive measures to proactive, large-scale adaptation, positioning Iran at the forefront of addressing water scarcity through advanced engineering.

The project's reliance on domestically sourced materials, particularly the vast quantities of specialized steel, and the application of cutting-edge desalination technology, highlights the maturity and integration of the nation's industrial and scientific sectors.

It serves as a tangible demonstration of an ability to mobilize resources, coordinate across multiple provinces, and overcome formidable topographical challenges to achieve a strategic national objective.

In doing so, it provides a replicable model not only for other arid regions within Iran but also for nations worldwide grappling with the existential challenge of water security in the 21st century.

The new current flowing from the Sea of Oman to Isfahan is, therefore, more than water; it is a flow of confidence, stability, and a renewed commitment to a sustainable and prosperous future.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir