Iran’s first coal-fired power plant to be operational in four years
Iran’s first coal-fired power plant in Tabas, located in South Khorasan Province, will be operational in at least four years, according to an official with the Thermal Power Plants Holding Company (TPPH).
“The construction period for the first steam power plant unit typically requires 4 to 5 years under normal circumstances. However, given the partial existing infrastructure in Tabas, the operationalization of this plant could be achieved in the best-case scenario within three and a half years,” Director of TPPH Steam Power Plant Projects Behnam Khaefi-Nejad was reported as saying by Mehr news agency.
“Coal-fired power plant construction has been prioritized for years, with the National Energy Document outlining plans for 5,000 megawatts (MW) of such capacity,” Khaefi-Nejad said, adding, “The Supreme Energy Council also passed a resolution on this matter in the early 2010s.”
According to the official, comprehensive studies for coal-fired power plant construction in Iran have been completed, including site selection and capacity determination, with a focus on the southern coastal regions — particularly the Makoran coast — to identify suitable locations.
Khaefi-Nejad underlined that the Tabas project includes two steam units, each with a capacity of 325 MW.
“The existing strategy for coal-fired power plant development requires revision. Globally, these plants are built near open waters due to their higher water consumption, especially coal-fired steam plants compared to similar-capacity alternatives. Given the severe water crisis in Iran’s central regions, decision-makers are now approaching coal-fired power plant expansion with greater caution,” he further elaborated.