Omid Shakeri made the remarks Monday at the official inauguration ceremony of the first-of-a-kind national gas microturbine project. He said the project represents a high level of technological capability and demonstrates that Iran, relying on the expertise of its domestic specialists, has reached an advanced stage in energy optimization technologies.

He said deployment of the technology offers multiple benefits, including higher efficiency and improved use of energy resources, mitigation of energy imbalances across economic sectors, better environmental indicators, diversification of the energy mix and stronger passive defense capabilities. Shakeri expressed hope that the microturbine would be commercialized and widely deployed across various sectors.

Shakeri said plans for commercial production of the product are also underway, calling the move encouraging. He added that the Oil Ministry, particularly the engineering, research and technology division, is treating the issue as a serious mission to ensure first-of-a-kind projects defined in recent years go beyond unveiling ceremonies and advance to full implementation and operation.

“The end of the first-of-a-kind production path is not merely unveiling a product,” Shakeri said. “It is its real entry into the oil industry’s supply chain and meeting the country’s essential needs.” He expressed hope that, with the efforts of project executors and support from client companies, the indigenous technology will see broad, practical use.

Role of ESCOs in Accelerating Energy Technology Development

Shakeri highlighted the role of energy service companies (ESCOs) in advancing energy efficiency technologies, saying their entry into the field could significantly accelerate market adoption. He said proper introduction and public awareness could attract ESCOs to implement optimization projects, a long-standing objective.

Reviewing the track record of the Fuel Consumption Optimization Company, Shakeri said that since its establishment in 2000, numerous innovative energy efficiency technologies have been introduced to the country. Many of these technologies are now widely used in industry, buildings and transportation, he said, adding that their origins are often forgotten.

He cited double-glazed windows, radiant heating systems, smart boiler room controls, heat pumps, control valves and solar water heaters as examples introduced by the company that now hold a notable share of the country’s energy mix.

Shakeri said the company’s new inward-looking development approach, marked by the creation of a research and technology unit, has shifted it beyond simple technology transfer toward indigenous development. The national gas microturbine project, he said, is a product of that approach and has now been localized through the expertise of Iranian specialists.