Nasser Hosseini, the CEO of the Alborz Gas Company, explained the status of gas production and consumption in the country at a press conference on Thursday, November 5, and emphasized the need for a 20% reduction in gas consumption in the province. He pointed out that the gas imbalance has become a chronic issue, stating: "Iran has some of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world, but we have not achieved a suitable energy consumption pattern and are among the high-consuming countries."
Gas Imbalance and Increased Consumption
Hosseini stated that during winter, Iran's gas consumption is equivalent to that of 30 European countries, and a significant portion of the gas produced in the country is consumed domestically. He also referred to the incident on March 18, which led to the halt of production in several refineries across the country and eliminated over 230 million cubic meters of the country’s daily gas production.
The CEO of the Alborz Gas Company stated that with the efforts made, about 100 million cubic meters of lost production capacity has returned to the consumption cycle, but warned that the gas imbalance still exists and there is a possibility of gas tension in 11 provinces of the country.
Mandatory Reduction in Gas Consumption
Hosseini emphasized that if consumption is not managed, household subscribers in three northern provinces may face pressure drops and gas flow interruptions. For this reason, the reduction in gas consumption in Alborz has been communicated in writing, and it is expected that gas consumption in all sectors will decrease by 20% compared to last year.
He also referred to the share of various sectors in gas consumption last year, stating: "The total gas consumption in Alborz last year was about five billion and 445 million cubic meters, of which over 45% was allocated to the household sector and about 27% to power plants." He added that during the peak cold period, over 80% of the gas consumed in the province is used in the household sector.
The CEO of the Alborz Gas Company mentioned the daily consumption of about five million cubic meters of gas in the industrial sector and said: "If the household sector does not cooperate in managing consumption, we will have to impose more restrictions on industries."
In conclusion, Hosseini emphasized the importance of household subscribers' cooperation in managing consumption and added: "If the household sector saves 10% in its consumption, the restrictions in the industrial sector will reach about 50%." Additionally, through the implementation of consumption optimization projects and the replacement of outdated heaters, efforts are being made to help reduce gas consumption.
