Speaking Sunday, Houshang Seydali outlined the current gas usage in the country. He said national consumption is divided into two main sectors: households, commercial units, and small industries, and large industries. While the baseline for households and small industries is about 435 million cubic meters per day, recent figures have exceeded this by more than 200 million cubic meters.

“Current gas consumption has reached 660 million cubic meters per day, and it could rise further if cold weather persists,” Seydali said. “Last year, during a particularly cold winter, consumption surpassed 700 million cubic meters per day. This year, despite prior warnings and public awareness campaigns, usage remains high.”

Seydali stressed that ensuring gas supply to households remains the top priority. “Our red line is that no home in Iran should go without gas. As household consumption rises, we have no choice but to impose restrictions on large industries. Conversely, if people follow simple conservation guidelines, more gas can be allocated to industrial and production sectors.”

Home Temperature Control Key to Reducing Gas Use

Seydali identified controlling indoor temperatures as the most practical way to reduce consumption. “A reasonable and standard indoor temperature is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. Using thick curtains, even in double-glazed homes, managing heaters, boilers, and water heaters, and avoiding improper adjustments all help lower consumption,” he said.

The National Iranian Gas Company has also rolled out programs to optimize heating equipment. “We are promoting high-efficiency heaters that deliver about 40% more output than older models. Plans cover 4.1 million units, with roughly 300,000 to be installed by year-end; about 100,000 have already been put into service,” Seydali said.

Drawing from his own experience, he added, “Smart heating control, especially lowering the temperature in common areas during sleep hours and focusing warmth on bedrooms, is very effective. Simply monitoring temperatures and using thermometers in homes can solve a significant part of the gas consumption problem.”