An Unfolding Environmental Crisis Threatened Persian Gulf Ecosystem: The Case of Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, Southern Iran

The Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) in Asaluyeh narrow plain located in southern Iran has been established since ۲۰۰۲ to operate the world's largest natural gas field in the Persian Gulf. While ۲۳% of all gas flaring in Iran is in the PSEEZ, the extended emission of greenhouse gases through ۲۷ flares is one of the obvious environmental issues in the special climate of this region (temperature ۵-۵۲ °C and precipitation ~۱۸۰ mm/yr). Despite gas flaring, contamination of Asaluyeh coastal sediments by industries’ wastewater is another concern that is well documented. An unfolding serious hazard that the researchers have less attended is direct discharge of warmed water of one-through cooling system of these industries (at the rate of ۱۹,۲۰۰ m۳/s) into the sea without any treatment. Based on field investigation by the author and limited previous studies, the additive chemicals including corrosion inhibitor, antiscalant, anti-fouling and antifoam are continuously injected into the intake seawater of the cooling system which directly discharge into the sea. These chemical agents drastically affect the marine health of Persian Gulf that needs to stopped or treated. This study, as the first, aims to open a window to unfolding environmental hazards that arisen through the development of industries in PSEEZ with emphasis on the untreated discharged of cooling water system into the Persian Gulf. The results of this study can attract the attention of policymakers to adopt strategies for achieving a sustainable state in the PSEEZ based on a more realistic outlook.

کلیدواژه ها:

Environmental Pollution ، Persian Gulf ، Pars Special Economic Energy Zone ، Wastewater ، Marine Hazard