The National Iranian Gas Company has launched the Gas Operator Plan to optimally manage natural gas consumption. This plan aims to improve the gas market conditions and utilize the capacity of the private sector and modern technologies to enhance energy efficiency.
Objectives and Mechanism of the Gas Operator Plan
The Gas Operator Plan has been created to allow operator companies to enter less focused areas in the gas industry, including information technology and data analysis. The main goal of this plan is to optimize and manage gas consumption with the help of modern technologies and existing capacities. Ali-Asghar Rajabi, the Energy and Carbon Manager of the National Iranian Gas Company, stated that international experiences have shown that the entry of operator companies into the energy market can lead to increased competition and reduced gas prices for consumers.
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International Experiences and Successful Models
Rajabi referred to the successful experiences of other countries in gas market liberalization and said: "In the UK, the gas market was liberalized in the late 1980s, and operator companies played a significant role in the import and distribution of gas. These countries have shown that market liberalization can lead to increased competition, supply diversity, and reduced prices for consumers." Additionally, in Germany, the gas distribution network has been handed over to private companies, which are monitored to ensure that services are provided fairly and with high quality to consumers.
The Energy and Carbon Manager of the National Iranian Gas Company added: "Support for operator companies and financial facilities in Germany have contributed to the development of gas infrastructure. The activities of operator companies can benefit end consumers through the development of new technologies and the improvement of products and services."
Current Status of the Gas Operator Plan
Rajabi continued by discussing the current status of the Gas Operator Plan and said: "Currently, over 5 million cubic meters of natural gas savings certificates have been issued for the optimization projects of operator companies. Additionally, a call for applicants to operate as Type 1 operators (retail) has been published on the National Iranian Gas Company's platform." He also mentioned the temporary licensing granted to 87 companies applying to operate as Type 2 operators (optimization), of which 33 companies have signed Type 2 operator contracts with 29 provincial gas companies.
Support for Large Industries and Enterprises
Rajabi discussed the impacts of the Gas Operator Plan on large industries, stating: "The main buyers of natural gas savings certificates in the Iranian energy exchange are industries that face gas supply constraints during peak consumption times. The goal of the savings model by the gas operator is to transfer gas volume from non-productive demand to economically productive demand with higher added value."
He also referred to the mechanism of the regulations governing the activities of gas operator companies, stating that this mechanism is designed to reduce state monopoly and provide gas sales services in a competitive and transparent environment. Currently, some large industrial holdings have registered to operate as Type 1 operators on the platform.
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