According to the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Houshang Seidali, NIGC’s gas supply coordination director, stressed the importance of efficient energy management during a ceremony marking a leadership transition at the West Azarbaijan Provincial Gas Company.

Seidali said public cooperation and greater attention to responsible gas consumption are essential to maintaining network stability and ensuring uninterrupted service amid growing demand and limitations in gas production capacity.

“Consumption optimization is now one of the most important priorities of the country’s gas industry,” he said, adding that all sectors must work to improve efficiency, reduce energy waste and promote a culture of responsible energy use.

At the event, newly appointed West Azarbaijan Gas Company CEO Jamshid Dorostkar said natural gas supplies about 70% of Iran’s energy mix, underscoring the industry’s responsibility to maintain network reliability, prevent excessive consumption and encourage efficient energy use.

Former CEO Alireza Sheikhi presented a report on the company’s performance over the past nine years, saying more than 16,000 kilometers of gas distribution networks were built across the province during his tenure.

He added that 1,600 villages were connected to the natural gas network, while the number of gas-supplied cities in the province increased from 36 to 47.

Sheikhi said the completion of the gas supply project in Qotur, near Khoy, will enable all cities in West Azarbaijan province to gain access to natural gas.