The water crisis in Iran is not limited to the shortage of water resources in dams and underground aquifers, but it also has significant impacts on the country's energy industry. Water consumption in industrial processes such as electricity generation, oil refining, and petrochemical complexes is substantial, making management and optimization particularly important.
Differences in Water Consumption Among Technologies
Research shows that the intensity of water consumption in thermal and combined cycle power plants varies significantly. For example, thermal power plants consume a lot of water for heat dissipation, while combined cycle power plants can reduce their water needs by using dry cooling systems. In this context, a study published in October 2025 examined the intensity of water consumption in some power plants in Iran.
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According to this study, the intensity of water consumption per electricity generation in Ramin power plant is 2.04 cubic meters per megawatt-hour, while in Neka power plant, it is 2.65 cubic meters. In contrast, the water consumption in combined cycle power plants is significantly lower, dropping to 0.18 cubic meters per megawatt-hour in Nishabour power plant.
The Importance of Publishing Up-to-Date Water Consumption Statistics
Publishing accurate and up-to-date statistics on water consumption in power plants is particularly important in water-stressed areas. The annual water consumption in power plants reaches significant figures, with Ramin power plant alone consuming about 22.4 million cubic meters and Neka power plant consuming 26.5 million cubic meters of water annually. These figures can indicate serious challenges in managing water resources.
In oil refining, water is used not only for cooling but also in separation processes and steam production. Given that the type of crude oil and refining technology affect the amount of water consumed, a study in 2024 showed that by recycling water, fresh water consumption can be significantly reduced. For example, fresh water consumption in one of the refineries can be reduced by 45 percent.
These findings indicate that reducing the need for fresh water does not solely depend on building new equipment, but redesigning the consumption network and separating wastewater streams can also be effective. To obtain reliable information about the refining industry, it is necessary for operating companies to publish accurate statistics on water consumption and the volume of wastewater produced.
Finally, petrochemicals and oil and gas processing facilities are also part of the energy chain, but their water consumption cannot simply be aggregated with that of power plants or refineries. A more detailed examination in this area can help optimize water resource consumption.
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