Cases / Oil, gas and coal operations · Iran · 2005–2026
South Pars and Assaluyeh: sulphur dioxide emissions and the pollution levy
Nature's voice · report
My air near Assaluyeh carried an estimated 1,284.4 kt of SO2 from the 'Tonbak' source and 919.6 kt from the 'Zagroz' source in 2025, according to NASA's catalogue; the 2005 figures were 144.0 kt and 175.4 kt.
Did nature suffer? Yes. Harm is on record. Disputed
Recorded
- In the Iranian year 1396 my Assaluyeh air had 31 unhealthy-for-all days, 60 very unhealthy days and 3 hazardous days, according to the South Pars environment office. Eghtesad Online (citing ISNA)
- The Department of Environment's Bushehr office listed all refineries in my region as polluters in July 2022 and warned them over flaring and SO3 emissions. Mehr News Agency
- A Bushehr city-council member said in 2018 that industrial pollutants damaged my coastline, farmland and mangrove forest, citing unnamed experts and organisations. Asr Iran
What the record lacks: 4 none on record · 1 not disclosed · 1 insufficient · 1 disputed · 3 unclear See the gaps
Accounts of the harm differ
Severity of air pollution and health effects at Assaluyeh
- Government and regulators South Pars environment office (January 2020): Refineries cause 92% of air pollution; there are no official statistics indicating residents' health is alarming. Eghtesad Online (citing ISNA)
- Communities and civil society A Bushehr city-council member (Asr Iran, 13 September 2018): Assaluyeh air pollution is 100 times Tehran's, citing unnamed experts and organisations. Asr Iran
- Government and regulators Department of Environment deputy (2009): Gas emissions, excessive flaring and sulfur release have kept air pollution at a high level. Radio Farda
NASA's satellite catalogue lists two sources in the Assaluyeh area at 1,284.4 and 919.6 kt of SO2 in 2025. Industry pays a pollution levy of one percent of sales that municipalities spend; Iran's Department of Environment has filed court cases against refineries and costed a US$1.2 billion improvement document.
1,284.4 kt estimateSO2 from the 'Tonbak' source near Assaluyeh, 2025 (NASA catalogue)
Satellite estimate; 144.0 kt in 2005. A second source, 'Zagroz', is listed at 919.6 kt for 2025.
Satellite estimate; 144.0 kt in 2005. A second source, 'Zagroz', is listed at 919.6 kt for 2025.
Status As of July 2026: NASA's catalogue listed 1,284.4 kt and 919.6 kt SO2 for 2025; outcomes of the Department of Environment's court cases were not reported, and Parsian county was pursuing a share of the levies.
What?
NASA's satellite catalogue lists two SO2 sources in the Assaluyeh area at 1,284.4 kt and 919.6 kt in 2025; the Department of Environment has filed court cases against refineries, and industry pays a pollution levy of one percent of sales that is spent largely by municipalities. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Where?
Assaluyeh, Bushehr province, about 27.48 N, 52.61 E; NASA sources 'Tonbak' at 27.72 N, 52.18 E and 'Zagroz' at 27.55 N, 52.56 E. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
When?
Satellite record 2005–2025; zone established 1377 (1998); cabinet decisions in Farvardin 1398 (March–April 2019) and on 7 Aban 1399 (28 October 2020); Department of Environment statements in January 2020 and July 2022. Eghtesad Online (citing ISNA)
Who?
Gained
- Municipalities of Asaluyeh and Kangan — Received the most pollution-levy revenue, which the Department of Environment said was spent without its oversight Mehr News Agency
Lost
- Polluting industries — Obliged to pay one percent of sales into the environment fund, according to an industry consultant Eghtesad Online (citing ISNA)
Harmed
- Air and sea around Assaluyeh — SO2 listed at 1,284.4 kt and 919.6 kt in 2025 for two sources; the improvement document costed at US$1.2 billion NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- Residents of Bidkhoon — Named by the South Pars environment office as the most affected settlement Eghtesad Online (citing ISNA)
Why?
The South Pars office attributed 92% of the zone's air pollution to refineries and 8% to petrochemical plants; the Department of Environment named flaring and SO3 emissions. Eghtesad Online (citing ISNA)
How?
A levy of one percent of sales goes into an environment fund; the Department of Environment said it is not authorised to collect it, that the Tax Organization does, and that the money was spent on municipal projects. Mehr News Agency
6 of 6 questions answered from the record
What happened
The record, in order.
The South Pars gas complex at Assaluyeh and Kangan, Bushehr province, is covered by a special economic zone established in 1377 (1998), according to Eghtesad Online. NASA's MEaSUREs SO2 point-source catalogue (OMI, OMPS and TROPOMI satellite retrievals, 2005–2025) lists a source named 'Tonbak' (type Oil and Gas) at 27.72 N, 52.18 E and a source named 'Zagroz' (type Petrochemical complex) at 27.55 N, 52.56 E. Tonbak is listed at 144.0 kt SO2 a year in 2005, 91.9 kt in 2010, 512.6 kt in 2015, 740.1 kt in 2018, 908.3 kt in 2020, 1,014.1 kt in 2021, 1,006.1 kt in 2022, 1,184.1 kt in 2023, 1,334.8 kt in 2024 and 1,284.4 kt in 2025. Zagroz is listed at 175.4 kt in 2005, 404.8 kt in 2015, 595.7 kt in 2020, 876.3 kt in 2023, 1,015.9 kt in 2024 and 919.6 kt in 2025.
NASA's README gives a statistical uncertainty of about 4–5 kt a year (1-sigma) after 2018 and retrieval-algorithm uncertainties 'estimated at 50–60%', with comparisons to bottom-up inventories 'typically' agreeing 'to better than 30%'. The catalogue assigns emissions to these locations and does not name the individual facilities behind 'Tonbak'.
Mehdi Ziyarati, head of the South Pars environment office, said in January 2020 that refineries caused 92% and petrochemical plants 8% of air pollution in the zone, that each refinery phase produced about 200 tons of sulfur a day, that the office had sued eight refineries over open-air sulfur storage, and that Bidkhoon was the most affected settlement. In July 2022 the Bushehr provincial Department of Environment director-general, Farhad Gholinejad, said all refineries in the region were listed as polluters and had been warned over flaring and SO3 emissions, that the department had filed more than 30 court cases against polluting industries and for the first time estimated environmental damages under Article 12 of the Clean Air Law.
The money side has three parts. Ziyarati put the cost of repairing Assaluyeh's environmental damage at US$1.2 billion under an 'Assaluyeh Environmental Improvement Document' that the cabinet approved in Farvardin 1398 (March–April 2019) and that awaited budget approval in January 2020. A pollution levy of one percent of sales is paid by polluting industries; the Department of Environment said in July 2022 that it is not authorised to collect it (the Tax Organization does), that levy money was spent on municipal projects without the department's oversight, and that Asaluyeh and Kangan received the most levy yet neither has an urban wastewater treatment plant. A cabinet decision of 7 Aban 1399 (28 October 2020) directed pollution-levy revenue and National Iranian Oil Company social-responsibility funds toward a 110-bed hospital in Asaluyeh within two years.
- 2005NASA catalogue lists Tonbak at 144.0 kt and Zagroz at 175.4 kt SO2
- 2009Department of Environment deputy says emissions, excessive flaring and sulfur release keep air pollution high; Oil Ministry blames sanctions for delays to treatment plants (13 May)
- 2019Cabinet approves the Assaluyeh Environmental Improvement Document (Farvardin 1398, March–April)
- 2020South Pars environment office puts the cost at US$1.2 billion and reports suits against eight refineries (25 Jan); cabinet decision on a 110-bed hospital and levy use (28 Oct)
- 2022Bushehr Department of Environment reports more than 30 court cases and first damage estimates (30 Jul)
- 2025NASA catalogue lists Tonbak at 1,284.4 kt and Zagroz at 919.6 kt SO2
- 2026Parsian county (Hormozgan) pursues a share of South Pars pollution levies (27 Jul)
What was said
Claims, in the words of those who made them.
“We do not have official statistics indicating that the health of Assaluyeh residents is alarming”
“In Assaluyeh, gas emissions, excessive flaring and sulfur release have kept air pollution at a high level”
“Polluting industries are obliged to pay one percent of their sales into the environment fund”
“responsible development, not opposition to industry”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Severity of air pollution and health effects at Assaluyeh
Government and regulators
South Pars environment office (January 2020)
Refineries cause 92% of air pollution; there are no official statistics indicating residents' health is alarming.
Eghtesad Online (citing ISNA)Communities and civil society
A Bushehr city-council member (Asr Iran, 13 September 2018)
Assaluyeh air pollution is 100 times Tehran's, citing unnamed experts and organisations.
Asr IranGovernment and regulators
Department of Environment deputy (2009)
Gas emissions, excessive flaring and sulfur release have kept air pollution at a high level.
Radio FardaHow it looked
What was shown, beside what was recorded.
Shown
- Assaluyeh air pollution '100 times' Tehran's, with pollutants said to damage coastline, farmland and mangrove forest; the claim cited unnamed experts and organisationsA Bushehr city-council member, reported by Asr Iran, 13 September 2018 · Asr Iran
Recorded
- Air-quality days in Assaluyeh reported by the South Pars environment office: unhealthy-for-all / very unhealthy / hazardous days were 31 / 60 / 3 in the Iranian year 1396 (2017/18), 22 / 28 / 3 in 1397 and 19 / 13 / 1 in 1398 up to Aban (October–November 2019).
- Cost estimates in the improvement document: gas-refinery wastewater plant about US$90 million; Damavand petrochemical wastewater plant about US$65 million.
- Cabinet decision of 7 Aban 1399 (28 October 2020): the Ministry of Petroleum to fund pollution-reduction projects from its subsidiaries; levy revenue and National Iranian Oil Company social-responsibility funds to help build a 110-bed hospital in Asaluyeh within two years, with a ward for pollution-related and respiratory diseases; the Health Ministry to monitor about 6,000 exposed people a year; the Department of Environment to submit a levy-distribution bill within three months.
- Department of Environment, July 2022: a new circular gives the department oversight of 50% of levies for pollution-reduction projects; night patrols identify flaring and damages are being estimated under Article 12 of the Clean Air Law.
- Kangan soil contamination from waste management led to legal action (Mehr, 30 July 2022).
- In July 2026 Parsian county in Hormozgan was pursuing a share of South Pars pollution levies, in a meeting reported by Mehr.
- NASA catalogue, Tonbak (kt SO2 a year): 2005 144.0; 2010 91.9; 2015 512.6; 2018 740.1; 2020 908.3; 2021 1,014.1; 2022 1,006.1; 2023 1,184.1; 2024 1,334.8; 2025 1,284.4. Zagroz: 2005 175.4; 2015 404.8; 2020 595.7; 2023 876.3; 2024 1,015.9; 2025 919.6.
Who gained
Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.
Reached nature or the ground
Not published
Priced damage to nature from SO2 and flaring at Assaluyeh—
None on record.
Gained elsewhere
Not totalled
Stated cost of the Assaluyeh Environmental Improvement Document (Ziyarati, January 2020)$1.2bn
Gas-refinery wastewater plant under the document≈ $90m
Damavand petrochemical wastewater plant under the document≈ $65m
Currency: USD · Window: 2019–2020. All figures cover the same period. * Estimate built from cited figures.
Responses on record
- iran-doe (January 2020; July 2022): Its South Pars environment office said it had sued eight refineries over open-air sulfur storage and that it had no official statistics indicating residents' health was alarming; its Bushehr office said it had filed more than 30 court cases and was not authorised to collect levies. · Mehr News Agency
- iran-ministry-of-petroleum (13 May 2009): In 2009 the Oil Ministry blamed sanctions for delays in building the Assaluyeh wastewater treatment plant, according to Radio Farda. · Radio Farda
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2020–Outcome not on recordSouth Pars environment office suits over open-air sulfur storageIranian courts · Civil · South Pars environment office (Department of Environment) → Eight refineries (not named in the source)
As of January 2020 the office had sued eight refineries over open-air sulfur storage; no outcome is reported. Eghtesad Online (citing ISNA)
- 2022–Outcome not on recordBushehr Department of Environment cases against polluting industriesIranian courts · Civil · Department of Environment, Bushehr province → Polluting industries in the region (not named in the source)
As of July 2022 the department reported more than 30 court cases and, for the first time, estimates of environmental damages under Article 12 of the Clean Air Law; no outcomes are reported. Mehr News Agency
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What nature saw
Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
SO2, 'Tonbak' source, 2025
1,284.4 kt
NASA catalogue; 144.0 kt in 2005 and 1,334.8 kt in 2024
SO2, 'Zagroz' source, 2025
919.6 kt
NASA catalogue; 175.4 kt in 2005
Improvement document
US$1.2 bn
Cost put forward by the South Pars environment office in January 2020; budget approval awaited
Pollution levy
1% of sales
Paid into the environment fund; spent largely by municipalities
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Nature
- Disputed Severity of air pollution and health effects at Assaluyeh
Money
- None on record Priced damage to nature from SO2 and flaring at Assaluyeh — None on record.
Court
Record
- Insufficient Insufficient: NASA's catalogue assigns emissions to location clusters and does not name the facilities behind 'Tonbak'; its README gives retrieval uncertainties of 50–60%.
- None on record None on record: official statistics indicating that the health of Assaluyeh residents is alarming, according to the South Pars environment office (January 2020).
- None on record None on record: outcomes of the suits against eight refineries over sulfur storage (reported January 2020) and of the more than 30 court cases reported in July 2022.
- None on record None on record: whether the 110-bed hospital due within two years of the October 2020 cabinet decision was completed.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the total pollution levy paid each year by South Pars companies.
- Unclear Unclear: whether the US$1.2 billion improvement document was funded after January 2020, when it awaited budget approval.
Did the harm stop?
SO2 from the two listed sources rose from 2005 to 2024 and stood at 1,284.4 kt and 919.6 kt in 2025; NASA's catalogue, which runs to 2025, records no end to the emissions.
Who paid?
Pollution levy of one percent of sales is paid by industry and spent largely by municipalities; the US$1.2 billion improvement document awaited budget approval in January 2020.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers✓ International bodies
Press and investigations
- US$1.2 billion for clean skies and sea in Assaluyeh (in Persian)Eghtesad Online (citing ISNA) · 2020-01-25
- Concentration of pollution in South Pars (in Persian)Mehr News Agency · 2022-07-30
- Parsian residents' rights over industrial pollution to be pursued until a result is reached (in Persian)Mehr News Agency · 2026-07-27
- Assaluyeh air pollution 100 times Tehran (in Persian)Asr Iran · 2018-09-13
- Sanctions an obstacle to building a treatment plant in Assaluyeh (in Persian)Radio Farda · 2009-05-13
International bodies
- SO2 V2 catalogue of large anthropogenic and volcanic point sources (Catalogue_SO2_2025), 2005–2025NASA Goddard Space Flight Center · 2025
- README for the MEaSUREs SO2 point-source catalogue (MSAQSO2L4 V2)NASA GES DISC · 2025
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