Karun-4 Dam
Karun-4 is a 230-metre concrete double-arch dam with a 440-metre crest and reported total reservoir capacity of 2.279 billion cubic metres. Sources describe it as the first upstream dam on the Karun River and state that it was the tallest concrete double-arch dam in Iran and the Middle East at the time of construction.
Strategic and market-access role
Karun-4 Dam matters in the Hormuz Graph because it sits upstream in the Karun River basin, linking Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari’s mountain water resources to hydropower generation and downstream water conditions in Khuzestan. Its role is different from lower Karun assets: it represents the upstream control layer where water storage, power generation, environmental flow, and interprovincial resource pressure intersect. The asset connects public infrastructure, electricity supply, river-basin politics, and long-term water security for both highland communities and downstream industrial and agricultural users.
Operations, capacity & connectivity
Related use cases
Useful for hydropower analysis, basin-level water-risk mapping, environmental-risk assessment, public-project monitoring, and evaluation of how upstream infrastructure affects downstream industry and agriculture. Investors and analysts can use it to assess energy reliability, water-allocation exposure, infrastructure dependency, and climate stress across the Karun system. Project-level decisions should verify current operating conditions, grid contribution, hydrological constraints, and regulatory access.
Capacity and service area
Capacity: Installed capacity differs by source: 1,020 MW (four 255 MW Francis turbines) or 1,000 MW (four 250 MW turbines). Annual generation target is 2,100 GWh; another source reports 2,107 GWh. Service area: Upper Karun River basin.
Industries served
Power generation; water management.
Ownership, operation & expansion
Owner and operator
Operator: Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company (IWPRDC).
Opening or commissioning
2011
Constraints, risk & compliance
Key risks and compliance considerations
Installed-capacity and annual-generation figures differ across available secondary sources. Current generation and operating conditions require project-specific verification.
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-4 Dam located?
Karun-4 Dam is located in Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran, at reported coordinates of 31°35′58″N, 50°28′20″E.
What is the role of Karun-4 Dam?
The dam is designed to generate hydroelectric power and support flood control in the upper Karun basin.
What is Karun-4 Dam’s installed power capacity?
Available sources conflict: one reports 1,020 MW from four 255 MW Francis turbines, while another reports 1,000 MW from four 250 MW turbines. The figure should be confirmed with a primary operator source for transaction or operational use.
When did Karun-4 Dam begin operating?
Available evidence states that power generation began in November 2010, reservoir impoundment occurred in April 2011, and inauguration took place in July 2011.