Ali Rabbani, speaking Monday at the second prize draw for individual participants of the "10% Energy Consumption Reduction" campaign during the third "Energetic Mondays" event, highlighted the grassroots nature of the initiative. He said this campaign is the first of its kind in the country to be implemented without any state budget allocation and without mandatory or coercive approaches.

"We tried to start a social dialogue; a 'people for people' dialogue whose outcome will be nothing but good," he said.

Referring to some initial resistance in implementing the plan, he added: "At the beginning, even among the executive teams, there were doubts. But today we see this path is gradually becoming established and the model initially designed is slowly being realized."

If just 10% is saved...

Providing statistics on the country's gas consumption, Rabbani stated: The daily consumption of natural gas during peak usage periods in Tehran is about 120 million cubic meters. If only 10% of this amount is reduced, it would allow five urea production units to come online. This figure shows that people are not to blame for high consumption, but they play a decisive role in managing it.

He emphasized that the role of the media as ambassadors of awareness is very important and effective, adding: "The goal is not 'saving at any cost'; the goal is correct, conscious and smart consumption, and ultimately reducing energy waste."

The "Energy Pulse" campaign, by appreciating efficient subscribers, has tried to strengthen the culture of correct consumption, an action that, unlike the past, does not focus solely on high consumers.

Referring to the social and charitable dimensions of the campaign, he said: "For the first time in Iran, we are saying that people can benefit from the advantages by doing a charitable act without paying any cost." Part of the points from this plan have been allocated to public aid, and so far, with public participation, forest rescue teams have been equipped, wheelchairs provided for children, and burnt forests revived.

Rabbani stressed: "This path continues; a path that shows that with public cooperation, both energy consumption can be managed and social capital can be strengthened."

Consumption management is the key to sustaining gas flow

Mohammad Etesami, head of Energy and Carbon at Gilan Province Gas Company, also speaking at the event, referred to the serious challenges of energy imbalance in the northern provinces. He said implementing the 10% energy consumption reduction plan plays an effective role in sustaining the gas flow, reducing pressure on the network in winter, and ensuring stable gas delivery to the end of the lines, especially in Mazandaran and Golestan provinces.

Referring to the gas consumption situation in the north of the country, he added: In the northern provinces, especially Mazandaran and Golestan, which are at the end of the gas transmission lines, the continuity of the gas flow is doubly important. Estimates show gas consumption in these areas during peak periods reaches about 31 to 41 million cubic meters per day, and even a 10% reduction in consumption can play a decisive role in network stability and overcoming critical conditions.

Emphasizing the main mission of the National Iranian Gas Company, Etesami stated: "Our mission is the continuity of safe and stable gas flow throughout the country. Implementing plans such as the 10% energy consumption reduction campaign is exactly in line with this mission and, alongside the technical management of the network, serves as a social and participatory tool that greatly helps reduce imbalance."

Referring to the results of implementing this plan last year, Etesami said: "In the first year of the campaign, despite its novelty, acceptable results were achieved, and this year, with increased public participation, we are witnessing this culture becoming more established and the plan having a greater impact. Our goal is that with the continuity of this trend, participation and effectiveness increase year by year."

He considered one of the strengths of this campaign to be the combination of public incentives and social responsibilities, adding: "In this plan, in addition to awarding cash and non-cash prizes to domestic subscribers, attention has also been paid to industrial and power plant sectors that face consumption limitations in winter. Also, part of the campaign's resources have been allocated to social responsibility, including support for children with disabilities, implementation of environmental projects such as the restoration of Anzali Wetland last year, and programs like tree planting in Zagros regions."

Etesami, emphasizing the necessity of senior managers' support for this plan, noted: "The success of this campaign is the result of a completely team effort and requires the cooperation of all components, from senior managers to the executive body and public participation. Fortunately, this is seriously emphasized in regular weekly meetings and at the level of the minister's deputy."