Managing energy imbalance in the country requires a fundamental reconsideration of policy concepts. A clear boundary must be established between "justice" and "equality." Applying equality in electricity and gas cuts means imposing the same restrictions on all industries regardless of their nature and sensitivity, an approach that can lead to injustice and undermine the foundations of production.
Justice in Industrial Policy
Justice in industrial policy means placing everything in its true position and considering structural differences and the vulnerability of processes. While the country's steel industry has faced serious challenges in sustainable energy supply in recent years, adopting uniform policies can have irreparable consequences for the sensitive and strategic sectors of this industry and the overall economy of the country. A justice-oriented approach necessitates that producers of alloy and special steels be completely exempt from any electricity and gas restrictions during the current cold season.
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Consequences of Energy Restrictions for Alloy Steel
Producing alloy steels requires a complex and continuous metallurgical process, and ignoring this can lead to heavy and irreparable damages. The slightest interruption or disruption in energy supply can cause serious damage to equipment and the production flow. For example, maintaining completely controlled temperatures in melting furnaces and precise timing in secondary metallurgical equipment are critical in this process. Cutting off electricity and gas not only delivers a devastating shock to production lines but can also lead to the freezing of molten metal in ladles.
From a macroeconomic perspective and the industrial needs of the country, implementing distributive justice requires a strategic view of the alloy steel industry. Currently, Iran faces a surplus in the production of carbon and construction steels, and imposing energy restrictions on factories producing these types of steels, although incorrect, will not create a crisis of shortage. However, in the realm of alloy steels, the situation is completely different, and the country faces shortages and dependency on imports in this sector.
Critical and sensitive industries in the country, including automotive, machinery, and petrochemicals, have an absolute dependency on alloy steels. These products, due to their strategic and irreplaceable nature, although they account for a small share of the country's energy consumption, create high added value. Therefore, imposing even the slightest energy restriction on these factories can deliver a fatal blow to the national economy.
In conditions of energy imbalance, imposing restrictions on the alloy steel industry is a strategic error. Achieving industrial justice necessitates opening a new chapter in the country's economy under the title "Alloy Steel" and avoiding destructive equalization between alloy and carbon steels. The continuity and sustainability of production in this vital sector guarantee the dynamism and independence of all key industries in the country.
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