Tehran, Iran – Iranian media quoted Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, Iran’s deputy chief executive, as confirming that the country is facing a genuine energy crisis and stressing the need for efficient management. These remarks highlight the increasing fragility of the country’s energy infrastructure amidst current political and economic challenges.
The specter of the coming winter: a projected shortage of 100 million cubic meters per day
Deputy Executive Director Masoud Bezikian explained that the country will face a severe gas shortage of approximately 100 million cubic meters per day during the upcoming winter. This anticipated deficit is a direct result of the extensive damage inflicted on oil refineries and vital energy facilities by US and Israeli airstrikes targeting various locations during recent conflicts, exacerbating the energy crisis compared to previous years, which already suffered from frequent seasonal disruptions.
Monthly quota system for managing energy consumption in the governorates
In an attempt to contain the crisis, the government announced that a specific and applicable model for water, gas, electricity, and other energy consumption would be established in all provinces of the country. This system would involve announcing specific monthly quotas or implementing precise regulatory mechanisms tailored to the specific circumstances and actual needs of each province, in a government effort to ration consumption and prevent a complete shutdown.
Easing energy restrictions on the industrial and steel sectors
In a related development, the government announced measures to ease the burden on the industrial sector. Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade, Mehmet Atabak, stated on Thursday, July 30, that restrictions on electricity and gas supplies to industries would be reduced. Atabak noted that previous energy restrictions had caused serious problems in recent months, particularly for energy-intensive industries such as steelmaking and facilities operating in various industrial zones.
Current production plans: The minister explained that the country’s total gas production currently stands at about 850 million cubic meters per day, and it is planned to allocate between 115 and 120 million cubic meters of it to the industrial sector, with decisions regarding restrictions to be made in full coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum and according to the latest developments in the field conditions.
