Iran has a capacity of 30 to 35 million cubic meters of CNG consumption per day, while current consumption is only about 17 million cubic meters. This indicates that a significant portion of the infrastructure invested in CNG development remains unused. At the same time, the development of LPG and electric vehicles is also on the agenda, with 232 electric charging stations having received permits.
Infrastructure Challenges and Lack of Coordination
The main issue is not just the lack of infrastructure, but the lack of coordination among energy chain components. While Turkey has stabilized LPG in its transportation fuel basket for years and China has advanced vehicle electrification alongside the development of charging networks, Iran often implements its policies in separate sectors. This alternating process between CNG, LPG, electric vehicles, and liquid fuels has led to serious contradictions.
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Conclusion: Widespread Imbalance in the Energy Chain
Alternative fuels without a complete chain merely change the form of imbalance. For instance, electric vehicles without an adequate electricity and charging network, CNG without vehicles and active stations, and LPG without distribution infrastructure cannot solve the problems on their own. Even the winter version of replacing gas for power plants and industries with gas oil and fuel oil is more of an emergency solution than a remedy for imbalance. Pressure is relieved from the gas network, but the costs and consequences will be transferred to the liquid fuel chain.
In fact, the imbalance is evident throughout Iran's entire energy chain; from oil and gas production and refining to power plants, transmission networks, vehicles, pricing, and consumption patterns. Therefore, if we replace one fuel with another for every crisis in one sector, we may not solve the imbalance but merely shift it. Ultimately, the main question is whether these fuels should be integrated into a single energy map or each be used separately to extinguish the fire in one sector?
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