Shahid Abbaspour Dam
A double-arch concrete dam, Shahid Abbaspour Dam is 200 metres high from foundation. It was initially known as Karun-1 Dam and was later renamed Shahid Abbaspour Dam; both names remain in use.
Strategic and market-access role
Shahid Abbaspour Dam matters in the Hormuz Graph as a major Karun-basin water and hydropower asset in northern Khuzestan, where river regulation affects electricity generation, downstream agriculture, industrial water conditions, and flood-management exposure. Its role is distinct from Marun or Karkheh because it is embedded in the Karun cascade, linking upstream hydropower logic to Khuzestan’s wider energy, agriculture, and industrial economy. The asset connects power flows, water allocation, reservoir management, environmental stress, and operating risk in one of Iran’s most economically sensitive river systems.
Operations, capacity & connectivity
Related use cases
Useful for hydropower context analysis, water-risk assessment, public-project monitoring, agricultural supply-chain review, industrial site-risk evaluation, and environmental-stress mapping in Khuzestan. Analysts can use it to compare Karun-basin assets and understand how reservoir conditions affect power availability, downstream users, irrigation, flood exposure, and water-quality concerns. Practical checks should verify current reservoir levels, generation status, maintenance needs, drought exposure, and allocation rules.
Capacity and service area
Capacity: 2,000 MW installed hydropower capacity across eight 250 MW units. Reservoir volume is reported as 3.139 billion cubic metres at maximum level. Service area: The asset serves Karun-basin power generation, flood-control and water-supply functions, including drinking, industrial and agricultural water uses.
Industries served
Power generation; water supply for industry and agriculture.
Ownership, operation & expansion
Owner and operator
Owner: Iran Water and Power Resources Development Co. (TAWANIR subsidiary) Operator: Iran Water and Power Resources Development Co. (TAWANIR subsidiary)
Opening or commissioning
1976
Constraints, risk & compliance
Operational constraints
Actual generation depends on water levels and demand. Current output, the number of units in operation and maintenance schedules are not consistently publicly reported.
Key risks and compliance considerations
Hydropower availability is exposed to changing reservoir conditions. Current operational and maintenance information should be verified for asset-specific decisions.
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.
Is Shahid Abbaspour Dam the same as Karun-1 Dam?
Yes. The dam was initially known as Karun-1 Dam and was later renamed Shahid Abbaspour Dam. Both names remain in use.
What is the installed capacity of Shahid Abbaspour Dam?
Its installed hydropower capacity is reported as 2,000 MW, comprising eight 250 MW units.
Who owns and operates Shahid Abbaspour Dam?
The Iran Water and Power Resources Development Co., a TAWANIR subsidiary, is identified as both owner and operator.
What are the dam's principal functions?
Its reported purposes are hydropower generation, flood control, and water supply for drinking, industrial and agricultural uses.