Iran's gas production has increased by 20% from spring 2018 to spring 2025, while consumption has grown by nearly 30%. This imbalance between production and consumption becomes particularly evident in winter, when daily household consumption rises dramatically.
Increased Consumption in Cold Seasons
Daily household consumption rises from about 47.5 million cubic meters in summer to 304 million cubic meters in winter. This significant increase is due to a reduction in consumption in the industrial and power sectors, which has decreased by an average of about 166 million cubic meters per day. Thus, a significant portion of the additional gas needed for households is supplied from the share of the production sectors.
Read more: Mohammad Reza Aref: We prevent gas cuts in the country's regions with the cooperation of the people
Hidden Subsidies and Their Impacts
From 2011 to 2024, the value of hidden gas subsidies has reached over $672 billion. These subsidies represent a heavy social cost that can harm production, exports, and employment. While price increases without improvements in efficiency can create new problems, the existing imbalance in the country's gas network clearly indicates the need for structural reform.
The trend of gas production and consumption in recent years shows that the gap between supply and demand has gradually decreased. In spring 2025 compared to spring 2024, average gas production has decreased by 2.1%, indicating the challenges we will face in the near future.
Read more: The 473 trillion tomans loss of the industry from the energy imbalance in 2025 · Damage to Iran's gas infrastructure and the challenges of the upcoming winter
