Aging Oil Pipelines Bring Iran’s Environment to Its Knees+ Video

According to Rokna’s social affairs correspondent, the thick black image of oil erupting from a decaying pipeline in Karanj, which was released a few weeks prior to the 12-day war, was not just a technical issue—it was a desperate warning from the heart of Iran’s deteriorating oil infrastructure that is gradually consuming our soil and water resources.

Every pipeline rupture potentially results in the destruction of marine and terrestrial habitats, contamination of water and soil, and the loss of livelihoods for people already grappling with the damage caused by these disasters. This is no longer just a matter of oil and economy—it is a threat to environmental health and national security; a ticking time bomb whose countdown can be seen in every leak and rupture.

Iran’s Oil Transmission Lines: A Ticking Time Bomb Beneath the Nation’s Surface and a Serious Threat to the Environment

In recent weeks, a short but shocking video circulated on social media—a clip that no environmental activist or even economic observer could ignore. It showed a rupture in the Karanj oil pipeline near Omidiyeh County in Khuzestan Province, approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Ramhormoz. The rupture in this pipeline resembled a deep wound on the body of Iran’s oil infrastructure—a wound that not only causes financial losses but also threatens the life of the soil and water. In that video, thick black crude oil gushed from a corroded pipe, disrupting the calm of the surrounding marine environment.

But this incident is not just a technical failure—it is a loud and serious alarm for anyone who has not yet taken the dangerous implications of the aging oil transmission lines seriously. It is a bitter and silent reality creeping beneath the surface of the country, transforming day by day into a ticking time bomb for the environment, economy, and national security.

A Vast and Strategic Network That Is Rarely Seen

With over 14,000 kilometers of oil transmission lines on land and a total of more than 22,000 kilometers of oil, gas, and derivative pipelines, Iran possesses one of the most extensive and sensitive energy infrastructure networks in the region. This network serves as the backbone of the country’s economy—transporting oil and gas from extraction fields to refineries, export ports, and consumption centers.

However, within this vast network, aging and damage caused by chemical corrosion and mechanical erosion are striking at this vital artery. The situation is rapidly deteriorating, yet accurate statistics on the degree of aging remain unavailable.

Two Main Challenges of Aging: Corrosion and Excessive Pressure

Two key factors contributing to the aging of these pipelines are chemical corrosion and mechanical wear. Corrosion—the silent killer—occurs when compounds such as hydrogen sulfide in crude oil or chloride ions gradually eat away at the pipe walls, weakening them over time. On the other hand, mechanical erosion caused by high pressure and intense flow of oil and gas further thins the pipeline walls and makes them more vulnerable. Together, these factors have created a complex dilemma that demands urgent monitoring and action.

Smart Pigging: A Lifesaving Technology or an Unattainable Dream?

One of the advanced and essential methods for identifying damage is smart pigging—a process involving specialized devices that move inside pipelines and collect precise data on cracks, corrosion, and wall thickness. However, implementing this complex operation requires sophisticated equipment, expert contractors, and precise supervision.

This is where the main crisis reveals itself. In recent years, sanctions have cut off Iran’s access to foreign companies, and in the meantime, the development of domestic expertise and localization of these technologies has not progressed sufficiently in some areas. The result is a shortage of professional contractors in this field, sometimes so few they can be counted on one hand.

While the Ministry of Petroleum has always outsourced these projects to external contractors, the private sector has taken some steps toward producing specialized equipment such as smart clamps and smart underwater flanges. However, these advances are still insufficient and in need of broader support.

Cathodic Protection: A Shield That Is Often Ignored

One of the most effective methods for combating corrosion is cathodic protection—a technology that uses sacrificial metal anodes to direct electric current in such a way that corrosion occurs on the anodes rather than the pipeline itself, preserving the thickness of the pipe wall. This delicate and precise operation requires detailed planning, regular installation, and continuous monitoring.

However, due to a lack of resources and weaknesses in oversight, cathodic protection is not properly and regularly implemented in many pipelines, which accelerates their corrosion and deterioration.

Environmental Damage: A Catastrophe in the Shadows of Silence

The image of the pipeline rupture in Karanj marked only the beginning of an environmental catastrophe. Each time oil penetrates the soil or underground and marine waters, the sensitive ecosystems of that region—from plants to fish—suffer greatly. The destruction of aquatic habitats, reduction of biodiversity, and contamination of water resources are only part of the resulting damage.

Yet the consequences are not solely environmental. The livelihoods of local fishermen are jeopardized, the health of residents is endangered, and eventually, irreparable social and economic costs burden society.

If We Want to Prevent This Ticking Bomb from Exploding, Fundamental Action Is Essential

Preventing new disasters requires decisive action across several key areas:

• Increasing investment in the private sector for the development and localization of smart pigging technologies and protective equipment

• Training skilled professionals and establishing technical training centers related to pipeline technology

• Ensuring transparency and publishing data on the condition of oil transmission lines to raise public awareness and create pressure on authorities to allocate funding and implement related projects

• Regular and accurate implementation of cathodic protection and continuous monitoring of pipeline conditions

• Developing effective and efficient mechanisms for technical supervision and continuous evaluation of the transmission network

Developing effective and efficient mechanisms for technical supervision and continuous evaluation of the transmission network

Iran’s oil transmission lines are the economic pulse of the nation, but if that pulse is halted due to aging, not just the economy—but also the environment and public health—will be severely impacted. Recurring pipeline ruptures and oil leaks are not simple technical failures; they are national crises that threaten the health of the land and the future of generations to come.

Until this issue is taken seriously and structured, practical plans for the renewal and protection of this infrastructure are carried out, we must expect repeated environmental and health catastrophes.

Oil is Iran’s black gold—but preserving this wealth depends solely on intelligent and responsible maintenance of its infrastructure.