Karun-3 Dam
Karun-3 is a double-arch concrete dam with a reported height of 205 m from foundation. Reservoir capacity is 2.97 billion m³, while archived IWPC technical information gives a rounded figure of up to 3.0 billion m³.
Strategic and market-access role
Karun-3 Dam is a high-relevance hydropower and water-control asset in the Hormuz Graph because it sits on the Karun River system, one of the defining infrastructure corridors of southwest Iran. Its role connects upstream water regulation, electricity generation, downstream agricultural exposure, industrial water stress, and Khuzestan’s broader energy economy. Unlike smaller local dams, Karun-3 is analytically important because it affects the relationship between mountain water resources, grid reliability, river-basin management, and productive activity across a province central to oil, gas, steel, and agriculture.
Operations, capacity & connectivity
Related use cases
Useful for hydropower context analysis, water-risk assessment, agricultural supply-chain screening, industrial site evaluation, environmental-risk review, and public-project monitoring in Khuzestan. Analysts can use it to understand how Karun basin management affects electricity reliability, downstream water availability, farming conditions, and heavy-industry resilience. Practical evaluation should verify current reservoir conditions, grid role, downstream impacts, drought exposure, and public-sector procurement pathways.
Capacity and service area
Capacity: Installed hydroelectric capacity is reported as 2,280 MW, comprising eight 285 MW Francis-type turbines. One lower-confidence source reports 2,000 MW. Average annual generation is reported as 4,137 GWh/year; archived IWPC information reports 4,172 million kWh/year. Service area: Karun River basin and Khuzestan Province.
Connected modes
National electricity grid; Karun River water system.
Industries served
Hydropower, water management and agriculture.
Ownership, operation & expansion
Owner and operator
Owner: Ministry of Energy, Iran. Operator: Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company (IWPC).
Opening or commissioning
2005–2006; first unit commissioned in 2005 and last unit in 2006.
Connected Intelligence
Relevant geography, industry, market and execution context for this profile.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions most likely to arise when reviewing this profile.
Where is Karun-3 Dam located?
Karun-3 Dam is located in Izeh, Khuzestan Province, Iran, on the Karun River system.
Who operates Karun-3 Dam?
The dam is operated by the Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company (IWPC) and is owned by Iran’s Ministry of Energy.
What is the installed capacity of Karun-3 hydropower plant?
The principal reported installed capacity is 2,280 MW, using eight 285 MW Francis-type turbines. A separate, lower-confidence source reports 2,000 MW.
What information is not publicly established for Karun-3 Dam?
Current output, reservoir levels, downstream water allocation, recent environmental assessments and real-time operating data were not established in the reviewed evidence.