The Mystery of Iran's Missing Dams

The Iran Open Data project is an innovation initiative aimed at collecting data related to Iran in one place and presenting it in easily accessible formats. Radio Farda, in collaboration with this entity, publishes a series of articles. For years, Iran has invested a massive budget in dam construction. Some experts have stated that since 1979, dams have been the second largest area of investment after oil projects. In fact, during his presidency, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani inaugurated a dam on average every 45 days, earning him the title of 'Sardar-e Sazandegi' (Commander of Construction). Now, Iran has faced criticism for over a decade due to the environmental consequences of its dam construction programs. Recent studies, such as the report 'Lost Paradise' published in 2017 by Small Media, examine Iran's ongoing environmental crisis, highlighting several organizations and academics pointing to drying lakes and rivers as clear examples of water mismanagement over the years. To further investigate the issue of water mismanagement, the Small Media team explored the website of the Iran Water Resources Management Company, which is part of the Ministry of Energy, to obtain its dataset for 1,155 dams in Iran. However, the result was that many key pieces of information were missing in numerous cases. In fact, only 100 dams in this database had a complete set of information. We cannot definitively analyze whether this lack of information is fundamentally due to corruption in the system, but we can highlight the missing items and the lack of transparency surrounding dam construction in Iran. This point is particularly important given widespread allegations that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has used the Khatam al-Anbiya Engineering Company—one of its many front companies—to circumvent sanctions imposed by the UN and the EU. Additionally, considering the rapid construction of dams during the presidencies of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (1989-1997), Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013), where on average one dam was built each year, greater transparency regarding who built these dams, how long the construction took, and how they were evaluated is essential. However, when Hassan Rouhani became president in 2013, dam construction was halted. With an average of 35 dams launched per year from 1989 to 2013, this sudden shift in environmental policy marks a clear departure from his predecessors' approach to dam construction. This abrupt stop also indicates that there is no longer a necessity for the endless dam construction that occurred in the previous two decades. In fact, experts have stated that to create positive change in Iran's environment, more than 500 dams built during this period need to be decommissioned. This means abandoning or halting the construction of the majority of the 873 dams that began construction after 1989. Consequently, it is clear that rapid dam construction has generally had negative effects on Iran's waterways and environment. However, achieving a comprehensive understanding of the dams that have been constructed is a difficult process. As mentioned, despite probing into the 'complete' dataset of 1,155 dams currently in the country or still under construction, these data are not complete. Below, we highlight the missing items. Who builds Iran's dams? In addition to the obvious benefits of dam construction for the IRGC and its affiliates in terms of revenue generation, questions have also been raised about the semi-military nature of the dams. It has been said that extensive dam construction in Iran, often carried out by IRGC affiliates, has occurred as a defensive mechanism to ensure that the country has ample control over its water resources in the event of prolonged military conflict. Demonstrating the IRGC's influence over the country's water resources is crucial. However, more than half of the dams in the dataset do not provide the name of the contractor or consultant, or both, preventing deeper investigation into this matter. Information about the companies involved in dam construction is essential for maintaining accountability and transparency standards. Data should be available at three levels: the executing contractor (regional water boards that commission the construction), the contractor, and the construction consultant. Without information about contractors and consultants, there is no way to know which organizations were awarded contracts to initiate these massive construction projects. 647 dams, or more than half of the country's dams, lack complete data regarding the contractor or consultant or both. 108 dams in the dataset do not have a start date. Of these 108 dams, 69 also lack an end date. The implications of this are clear, meaning that it is impossible to track any delays in their completion, and thus the additional costs associated with dam construction cannot be determined. Although we do not have construction costs in the dataset, considering that the World Commission on Dams concluded in its final report in 2001 that the average additional cost of large dams is 56%, it can be assumed that any delays in dam construction are very costly. This report also notes that delays do not significantly impact construction companies because they receive their money and leave, but the citizens of the country bear the burden of the additional costs. In fact, it has become increasingly clear that large dam construction is often, incredibly, not economically viable, and at best has a very minimal net positive effect compared to the costs incurred, construction period, and its effects on local communities. With all this, we have entered the construction processes of 707 large dams in Iran (each dam over 15 meters high) that began construction after 1989. The average construction time for these dams is five years, but still, more than 269 dams are under construction or have taken more than five years to complete. In fact, 88 dams have taken more than ten years to complete, and there is a dam in Gilan province that apparently has only 5% of its construction completed after 22 years. Satellite images show its lack of progress. Conclusion; Accountability is important! Given the widespread acknowledgment that dams have had a horrific impact on Iran's environment and widespread concerns about the IRGC's significant involvement in dam construction for military purposes and increased funding, the lack of accountability surrounding dam construction is a real concern. Without complete access to comprehensive datasets, it is difficult to hold local institutions and the government accountable for the potentially devastating economic, social, and environmental costs of dam construction in the country. This article not only highlights the ambiguous nature of water management in Iran but also underscores the need for publicly available data and, in turn, the need for public accountability. The purpose of this article was to open a discussion about the nature of dam construction in Iran. We invite researchers to take a look at the complete dataset to conduct further and broader research on the subject.