Reza Sepahvand, spokesperson for the Energy Commission of the Parliament, pointed out the daily gas imbalance of 130 million cubic meters compared to last year and announced the possibility of gas cuts for some industries in the winter season. These statements come as the Ministry of Energy had issued a new directive allowing eligible industries to consume electricity beyond the contractual ceiling during off-peak hours.
Challenges and Consequences of Energy Restrictions
The issue of gas and electricity cuts in industries could lead to reduced production capacity, increased costs for businesses, and the potential shutdown of industrial units. The increase in gas imbalance and damage to energy production and processing infrastructure have posed challenges to the continuation of supportive policies. Behrouz Poursalimaan, a member of the Energy Commission of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, warned about the harm to small and medium-sized units under these conditions, stating: "Intensifying energy restrictions could seriously harm production units."
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Industrial Production Status and Financial Problems
The trend of the production index of large industrial workshops shows that energy restrictions have directly affected the level of production activity. In recent years, with the intensification of energy restrictions, the rate of industrial electricity consumption has decreased, and production growth has been limited to only 1.2 percent. Poursalimaan also pointed to the financial problems of production units, stating: "Increased costs and banks' restrictions on providing working capital have put additional pressure on production units."
Currently, production units are divided into two groups: those that are in production mode and those that are in the startup or construction phase. Active units can somewhat compensate for pressures if costs increase, but new units face more serious challenges. According to Poursalimaan, "About 90 percent of newly established units, given the current conditions, will not be able to enter production lines."
Ultimately, Poursalimaan urged the government and the Ministry of Energy to focus on taking fundamental actions to increase electricity production capacity instead of concentrating on scheduling power outages. He proposed utilizing foreign resources and financing for the development of solar power plants to leverage existing financial capacities for energy projects.
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