Speaking Tuesday at a ceremony unveiling a high-pressure gas storage compressor, CEO Saeed Tavakoli praised the technical, engineering and executive teams involved in the project. He said progress in gas storage projects has improved markedly compared with the past and is evident not only to contractors but also from the operator’s perspective.

Tavakoli said gas storage projects have traditionally leaned toward foreign procurement, but choosing domestic production was a strategic decision whose benefits are now reflected in stable performance and greater equipment reliability.

He acknowledged the inherent challenges of large-scale projects, saying disagreements and occasional setbacks are unavoidable. However, he said the determination of project teams has created confidence that, with targeted support, gas storage projects will achieve their intended results.

Call to streamline bureaucracy

Tavakoli stressed the need to ease administrative procedures, suggesting some projects be treated as integrated packages to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and speed implementation, including financing and access to facilities from the National Development Fund.

He noted the breadth of Iran’s gas transmission network, saying 351 turbo-compressors are currently in operation and contracts have been signed to supply about 100 more. This, he said, underscores the importance of stable maintenance and support services, as any disruption could threaten transmission network stability.

Referring to long-term cooperation in operational regions such as Assaluyeh, Tavakoli said industrial entities are increasingly focused not only on technology development but also on sustainable equipment maintenance, a shift that has strengthened the resilience of the gas network.

Record demand, stable winter supply

Tavakoli said the gas network performed strongly this winter despite unprecedented demand. During the winter of 2024, consumption records were set, including a peak of 737 million cubic meters per day in the residential and commercial sectors on Jan. 22. Despite heavy pressure, gas supply to cities remained stable, and in some areas the network continued operating even at very low-pressure levels.

He credited round-the-clock efforts by workers across production, transmission and distribution for maintaining stability and thanked all specialists and operational staff. Tavakoli said the achievement reflects teamwork, constructive cooperation and synergy among different sectors, adding that collaboration will continue to generate greater value for the country.

According to Shana, the compressors used in the Shourijeh gas storage development project were designed and built to meet the National Iranian Gas Co.’s strategic need for high-pressure gas injection equipment and to enhance network stability. Given the operational importance of gas storage reservoirs and constraints caused by sanctions and limited cooperation from foreign technology holders, the company opted to produce the advanced equipment domestically.

Under an agreement between the National Iranian Gas Company, the Gas Engineering and Development Co. of Iran and the Mapna Group, the design and manufacture of high-pressure gas storage compressors began domestically for the first time in the Middle East. The work was carried out by TUGA, a Mapna subsidiary, resulting in full localization of the technical know-how.

The centrifugal back-to-back compressors can raise pressure to about 350 bar and were previously available only from a limited number of major international firms. Each unit has an injection capacity of about 3.5 million cubic meters of gas per day and is designed for gas storage projects as well as gas injection into hydrocarbon reservoirs to enhance recovery.

Advanced technologies were developed domestically during manufacturing, including high-temperature brazing to produce impellers with strength of about 1,200 megapascals. All stages of design, manufacturing and testing were completed locally, and specialized infrastructure — including hydrostatic and leak test stands up to 800 bar — was established without reliance on foreign companies.

The achievement has eliminated dependence on foreign suppliers for this type of compressor and paved the way for its use in future gas storage and enhanced recovery projects. It is considered a major step toward self-sufficiency and safeguarding the country’s energy security.