Dez hydroelectric plant, Iran

The Dez Hydroelectric Project, located on the Dez River in Khuzestan Province, Iran, is one of the country's most important hydroelectric infrastructures. Construction of the Dez Dam began in 1960 and was completed in 1963, thanks to the collaboration between the Iranian government and an international consortium of companies, with the main contractor being the Italian company Impregilo S.p.A (later merged into the current Webuild Group).

The primary objective of the Dez Hydroelectric Plant was to provide a reliable source of electricity and support agricultural irrigation in the region, thus contributing to the economic and social development of the country. The Dez Dam, standing at 203 meters high, is one of the tallest gravity dams in the world and has created a large reservoir capable of holding approximately 3.34 billion cubic meters of water.

With an installed capacity of 520 megawatts (MW), the plant is equipped with eight Kaplan turbines, each with a capacity of 65 MW. These turbines utilize the flow of water from the reservoir to generate energy, converting the kinetic energy of the water into mechanical energy, and subsequently into electrical energy. The energy produced is primarily intended for domestic consumption in Iran, significantly contributing to the stability of the national power grid.

In addition to energy production, the Dez Dam plays a crucial role in managing the region's water resources. It helps prevent floods during the rainy seasons and provides a steady water supply for agricultural irrigation, enhancing the productivity of the cultivated lands in Khuzestan Province.