As winter approaches, Iran is facing serious challenges in gas supply. According to data from the Statistical Center of Iran, the gross domestic product in the spring of this year has decreased by 10.1 percent compared to the same period last year, which has directly impacted the oil and gas extraction sector. The added value of this sector has also faced a decline of 26.4 percent.
Decline in Iran's Oil and Gas Production
The International Energy Agency estimates Iran's oil production in the spring of this year to be about 2.6 million barrels per day, which is more than 20 percent lower than the same period last year. In the gas sector, the added value of gas distribution has decreased by more than 21 percent this spring. Attacks on the South Pars gas processing facilities, which supply a significant portion of Iran's gas, have severely contributed to the production decline. Officials of the Islamic Republic have reported that the reduction in gas production following these attacks is between 100 to 230 million cubic meters per day.
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Increase in Gas Exports to Turkey
However, in the second quarter of this year, Iran's gas exports to Turkey have increased by 27 percent to about 30 million cubic meters per day. This increase in exports is attributed to reduced consumption in industries and petrochemicals following damage to these sectors, as well as low domestic consumption during the warm months. However, with the onset of winter and increased household demand, conditions could change rapidly.
Last winter, households accounted for 49 percent of Iran's total gas consumption, and during peak consumption periods, the gas shortage could reach about 250 million cubic meters per day. This puts the Islamic Republic under increasing pressure to simultaneously meet domestic needs and maintain gas exports to Turkey and Iraq.
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