The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the 11th Petrochemical
Industry Excellence Award ceremony, aligns with NPC’s corporate social
responsibility (CSR) initiatives. It aims to enhance access to clean water in
underserved communities.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Hassan Abbaszadeh,
Deputy Petroleum Minister and CEO of NPC, and Hashem Amini, CEO of the National
Water and Wastewater Engineering Company.
Abbaszadeh emphasized the petrochemical sector’s commitment to aiding
water supply efforts in remote and disadvantaged areas. “We hope the
petrochemical industry can play a greater role in meeting the water needs of
rural communities. Significant progress has already been made in this regard,”
he said.
He added that while previous efforts have improved water access in
various parts of the country, the new agreement will allow for an expansion of
these initiatives. “Our objective is to ensure that the petrochemical
industry’s CSR activities are not confined to a few regions but have a national
impact.”
Amini highlighted Iran’s arid and semi-arid climate, noting that the
country receives only one-third of the global average annual rainfall. “Iran’s
annual precipitation is about 250 millimeters, yet we must provide water for a
population of 85 million and sustain our industries,” he said.
He stated that while 99.9% of the urban population has access to
potable water, rural coverage remains a challenge due to drought conditions and
the scattered nature of villages. Currently, 87% of the rural population is
connected to the water network.
Amini expressed optimism that this partnership will help secure water
resources and improve services for the country’s population.