Seyyed Ismail Hosseini, speaking to reporters in Shiraz, pointed out the energy situation in the country, stating: "The energy sector, including oil, gas, and electricity, is one of the strengths of the country and a component of power; however, unfortunately, in recent years, due to various reasons, this sector has become one of the country's challenges."
Challenges in the Energy Sector
Hosseini identified mismanagement, weak oversight, and some actions taken in various sectors of the energy field as factors contributing to the current challenges, adding: "The country has a suitable electricity production capacity, with current electricity generation close to 100,000 megawatts, but necessary optimization has not been carried out in consumption, and losses in transmission and distribution have not been sufficiently reduced."
He also referred to the lack of optimization in consumer equipment and the necessity of reforming energy consumption culture, stating: "For this reason, at certain times, consumption exceeds production, leading to blackouts imposed by the Ministry of Energy."
Electricity Situation in Winter
Regarding the electricity situation in winter, Hosseini said: "The majority of the country's electricity production capacity comes from thermal power plants, and the share of nuclear and renewable power plants in production capacity is lower. In winter, with a sharp increase in gas consumption in the residential and commercial sectors, the ability to deliver gas to thermal power plants decreases."
He added: "Power plants use liquid fuel such as diesel and fuel oil to compensate for the reduction in gas delivery; however, this situation will bring about problems. Even if there were no war, we would have faced imbalances in the energy sector, but now the country is in a wartime situation, and some infrastructures in gas, oil, and diesel production have been hit."
Hosseini emphasized: "The imposed blackouts are the same two-hour scheduled blackouts that would exist even if there were no war due to energy imbalance."
Fuel Supply in Wartime Conditions
The representative of Shiraz and Zarqan, referring to the fuel supply situation in wartime, said: "In conditions where some countries were not even indirectly involved in war, they experienced rising gasoline prices and fuel queues; however, in our country, despite being in a wartime situation, such a situation was not observed during the 12-day war and the 40-day war and up to this point."
He noted: "In the autumn season, which is a cool season, electricity consumption is not at its peak, and gas consumption is also not at maximum levels; therefore, we are not facing serious problems in gas delivery and electricity supply for the people."
However, Hosseini stated: "In winter, due to the sharp increase in gas consumption in the residential and commercial sectors, there is a possibility that gas delivery to some power plants may face issues."
He also said: "Power plants are trying to compensate for this reduction through liquid fuel reserves, and currently, the reserves in the tanks are at a desirable level; therefore, we hope that the upcoming winter will pass with minimal problems."
Hosseini concluded by emphasizing: "The amount of gas, diesel, fuel oil, and gasoline production is clear, and these resources must be distributed among various sectors, including power plants, residential and commercial sectors, small and large industries, agriculture, and transportation."
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