Karkheh Dam
Construction began in 1991 and was completed in 2001. The dam began operating in 2002 and serves water-management, irrigation, flood-control and hydropower functions. Its 400 MW power plant has reported average annual generation of 934 GWh, although actual generation is sensitive to hydrological conditions.
Strategic and market-access role
Karkheh Dam is a high-relevance water and power asset in the Hormuz Graph because it regulates one of Khuzestan’s major river systems, linking hydropower, irrigation, flood control, agricultural production, and public water security. Its role is distinct from Karun-system dams because it affects western Khuzestan’s farming zones, downstream settlements, and environmental stress around the Karkheh basin. The asset connects water allocation, electricity generation, rural productivity, urban resilience, and public infrastructure risk in a province where water conditions directly shape industrial and social stability.
Operations, capacity & connectivity
Related use cases
Useful for water-risk assessment, hydropower context analysis, agricultural supply-chain screening, public-project monitoring, environmental-risk review, and site-risk evaluation in western Khuzestan. Analysts can use it to assess how river-basin management affects farming, urban services, industrial resilience, and regional logistics. Practical evaluation should verify current water levels, allocation rules, grid contribution, drought exposure, downstream impacts, and public-sector procurement pathways.
Capacity and service area
Capacity: The hydroelectric plant has 400 MW of installed capacity across three units. Maximum reservoir capacity is 7.3 billion m³. The scheme was designed to irrigate 320,000 hectares. Service area: The Karkheh River basin and agricultural areas served by the dam’s irrigation system in Khuzestan.
Industries served
Power generation, water management and irrigated agriculture.
Ownership, operation & expansion
Owner and operator
Owner: Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company (IWPC), affiliated with Iran’s Ministry of Energy. Operator: Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company (IWPC).
Opening or commissioning
2002; the first hydroelectric generating unit was commissioned in September 2002.
Constraints, risk & compliance
Operational constraints
Hydroelectric output depends on reservoir water availability. In May 2024, reports cited reservoir storage of about 1 billion m³, around 40 metres below the natural operating level, and said the plant’s units had been taken out of service.
Key risks and compliance considerations
Drought and water scarcity can constrain both hydropower generation and agricultural water supply. Reduced river flows also present environmental stress in the Karkheh basin.
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.
What is Karkheh Dam used for?
Karkheh Dam supports regional water management, agricultural irrigation, flood control and hydroelectric generation on the Karkheh River.
What is the installed capacity of Karkheh Dam’s power plant?
The hydroelectric plant has reported installed capacity of 400 MW across three generating units.
When did Karkheh Dam begin operating?
The dam began operating in 2002. The first hydroelectric generating unit was commissioned in September 2002.
What has constrained Karkheh Dam’s hydropower output?
Low reservoir water levels have constrained generation. In May 2024, reports said the plant’s units were taken out of service amid significantly reduced reservoir storage.