Somayeh Rafiei made the remarks Sunday during a ceremony to unveil and sign contracts with gas performance companies. She also marked the religious holidays of Shaaban and Clean Air Week, saying the main cause of air pollution is the consumption of fossil fuels and that clean energy must be made available to all consumers, particularly industry.

Citing Health Ministry figures for the Iranian year 1403, Rafiei said 59,000 deaths were attributed to air pollution linked to fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns, calling the number significant and stressing that any effort to curb consumption and raise energy efficiency should be supported.

She said annual health-related losses from air pollution have climbed from about $8 billion to nearly $20 billion.

 Oil Ministry Praised for Swift Regulations

Rafiei described polluting energy use as the country’s leading source of air pollution, saying Iran has behaved “like a wealthy child” with easy access to cheap energy and has paid insufficient attention to efficiency and conservation.

She noted that during work on the Seventh Development Plan, lawmakers approved Article 46, which mandates energy-consumption optimization and the establishment of a related organization. Its executive bylaw, she said, was drafted and approved by the Oil Ministry and the National Iranian Gas Co. more quickly than other provisions of the plan.

Drafting such regulations is complex, Rafiei said, calling the move significant and adding that the newly unveiled contracts and memorandums of understanding with performance companies are a continuation of that effort. If the article is implemented properly, she said, it would represent a positive step forward in energy-efficiency policy.

 Role in Carbon Markets Urged

Rafiei said boosting pressure in gas networks, optimizing consumption and improving efficiency are key priorities for the National Iranian Gas Company, adding that performance companies offer the best model for achieving those goals.

She suggested the firms also become active in carbon markets, alongside efficiency projects, to generate new foreign-currency revenue and help create bilateral markets with other countries.

Rafiei said establishing a professional guild or association for performance companies could help sustain the initiative, adding that energy management should encompass the entire supply chain and ultimately protect the public’s right to clean air.