Hassan Abbaszadeh noted that the development of the petrochemical industry in the southern coastal areas, particularly in Bushehr and Khuzestan provinces as well as Makoran, is underway due to the industry's high water demand.

He stated that most petrochemical facilities are located along the coasts, with about 48% of the industry's capacity in Asaluyeh and roughly 25% in Mahshahr, both of which use seawater. The remaining facilities are in western and northwestern provinces, including Isfahan and a few others, built in previous years, though their numbers are limited.

Abbaszadeh added that the National Petrochemical Company will focus new investors in the Makoran region, emphasizing efforts to develop this strategic area in line with the Supreme Leader's directives, while completing the petrochemical value chain.

Stressing the need for optimal water resource management in the industry's expansion, he said inland petrochemical plants have been urged to use unconventional water sources, such as treated wastewater. For example, Khorasan Petrochemical previously relied on well water but has switched to treated municipal wastewater since last year.

Abbaszadeh pointed out that the water used by petrochemical plants accounts for a very small fraction—just a few tenths of a percent—of the country's total water consumption. Efforts are underway to shift other petrochemical plants toward unconventional water sources, as the Seventh Development Plan mandates that future water withdrawals from dams or rivers be priced at the full cost of treated wastewater.