The gas imbalance in Iran has become a chronic crisis that takes on new dimensions every cold season. Despite Iran having the second-largest proven natural gas reserves in the world, the challenges of supplying gas to the people, industries, and power plants continue.
Factors Affecting Gas Imbalance
Sanctions, investment restrictions, aging infrastructure, and damage from recent attacks on gas facilities have impacted production capacity and network stability. But can all the problems be attributed to these factors? The gas imbalance is not solely related to production issues but also depends on the management of supply and demand.
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Gas consumption in the residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation sectors does not match the country's production capacity. This mismatch can easily lead to an imbalance even in the largest gas reserves in the world. Reforming consumption patterns, optimizing heating equipment, and smart network management must be aligned with production development.
Increase in Daily Gas Shortage
According to available figures, the daily gas shortage was estimated at about 250 million cubic meters at the peak of consumption before the recent attacks; however, this figure has now reached 500 million cubic meters. These two issues indicate a structural imbalance and a decline in supply due to damage to infrastructure. The public expects the National Gas Company to provide a transparent report on the extent of production decline, lost capacity, and reconstruction plans.
The CEO of the National Gas Company should focus on production and transmission sustainability, eliminating network bottlenecks, and managing consumption. Public opinion expects practical reports and scheduled plans in this regard instead of repeated warnings.
Gas Imports from Turkmenistan
Iran, with about 34 trillion cubic meters of proven natural gas reserves, continues its gas cooperation with Turkmenistan. These imports are crucial for meeting the needs of the northern regions of the country, especially in winter. However, the question remains as to why a country with such vast reserves should rely on gas imports. Determining the extent of dependence on imports and the reasons for it requires transparency and the provision of credible numbers and documents.
The public relations department of the National Gas Company should effectively fulfill its responsibility for informing the public and should not solely rest on the shoulders of the CEO. There is an expectation that the status of production, implementation plans, and timelines for compensating shortages will be documented and transparently communicated to the public.
Ultimately, the gas imbalance is a complex issue that cannot be resolved merely by orders or interviews. This crisis requires a comprehensive program that connects production, transmission, storage, targeted imports, and consumption pattern reform.
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