Mohammad-Sadeq Karimi, speaking Sunday at a ceremony to unveil and sign contracts with gas service companies, said the company’s changing view of consumption reflects an evolution that began years ago and has now entered a more advanced stage.

He said that in the past, when consumption pressures were less acute, the issue received limited attention. Today, with energy use having become a central challenge, the company has elevated demand management to a top priority — a major shift alongside its core operational responsibilities.

Karimi identified a second pillar of change as a new approach to reducing consumption and promoting efficiency. He said Iran has followed a defined trajectory in this area, beginning with programs such as replacing household heaters and boiler-room equipment and later developing an energy-efficiency market. At the current stage, although repayment mechanisms have shifted from cash to noncash models, the focus has remained on project-based initiatives.

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Karimi said the principal distinction of the gas company’s new model — particularly through service companies — lies in recognizing the flexibility, creativity and innovation of the private sector. Under this framework, he said, the National Iranian Gas Co. engages directly with companies, while those firms maintain direct relationships with consumers, signaling a more mature form of governance alongside earlier approaches.

He underscored the role of the Oil Ministry in advancing the initiative, saying it is the product of efforts by the ministry’s headquarters, the NIGC, provincial managers and regulators. He added that the drafting of regulations and guidelines resulted from sustained consultations with private-sector stakeholders and attempts to incorporate their concerns.

Karimi thanked those involved in the process and said the Planning and Budget Organization — along with NIGC Head Saeid Tavakoli and colleagues at the NIGC and the Oil Ministry — stands ready to provide any cooperation or support needed and has already followed up on all assigned tasks.