Minister: Seawater transfer to Fars on gov’t agenda
51 water, electricity projects to be opened
Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi (C) addresses an inauguration ceremony and launch of operations for Fars Province’s water and electricity industry projects in Shiraz on February 22, 2025. dolat.ir
The Iranian energy minister stated that transferring and utilizing desalinated seawater for Fars Province is on “the government’s agenda” with studies “currently underway.”
Abbas Aliabadi, who traveled to southern Iran to inaugurate 51 water and electricity projects, told IRNA on Saturday, “Desalinating seawater is among the key initiatives, and a massive project is currently underway.”
“This project has two parts. One focuses on supplying drinking water to coastal communities, which I believe should take top priority,” the minster stressed, adding that, “The other involves channeling water inland to regions near the sea where it’s economically viable.”
Aliabadi noted that, “Shiraz is among those regions. The government has solid plans here, and the private sector has stepped up efforts while we’re pushing ahead with three major state projects to speed up progress.”
According to IRNA, five seawater desalination lines are being built nationwide, with Fars Province set to receive 400 million cubic meters of desalinated water. The transfer project will pass through Parsian, Lamard, Joim, and southern Fars counties before reaching Abadeh.
Fars Province, located in an arid region with uneven rainfall distribution, faces severe water shortages, making innovative resource management essential.
The energy minister emphasized, “Large-scale water projects are underway, but the Energy Ministry’s top priority is curbing consumption, as rainfall this year has dropped by 16% compared to last year and over 50% below average.”
“We must double down on water efficiency. Recycling water is next on the agenda to steer industries toward using non-conventional sources,” He added.
“To ensure the supply of drinking water for the people, we must make other sectors, including agriculture, aware of the regulations. The laws necessitate that we develop efficiency and reduce consumption so that we can allocate a significantly larger share to more productive sectors,” Aliabadi concluded.
Projects worth billions of dollars will be launched during the minister’s two-day trip, which began Saturday. Fifty-one water and electricity projects will also be opened.
The visit aims to ramp up infrastructure development and fast-track critical projects in Fars Province.