Speaking at the Supreme Energy Council meeting on Wednesday, Aref stressed the importance of managing energy demand to ensure reliable supplies for the industrial, agricultural, and residential sectors. He said that coordinated energy management supports continuous production and requires consistent, nationwide decision-making.

Aref added that ministers should adopt a holistic perspective when making policy decisions, ensuring that all sectors are considered so energy management strategies can be implemented through consensus. He also called for contingency planning for worst-case scenarios and stated that the government is prepared to delegate the necessary authority to ministers to advance energy management initiatives.

He highlighted greater private-sector participation in energy supply, continued government support for nuclear energy development, and expanding greenhouse agriculture to reduce energy consumption as key measures to boost production and improve energy efficiency.

During the meeting, the Supreme Energy Council reviewed and approved several proposed policy measures from its secretariat as part of a strategic package for the supply and distribution of natural gas.

The session was attended by the ministers of Oil, Energy, Industry, Mine and Trade, Agriculture, and Economic Affairs and Finance, along with the heads of the Atomic Energy Organization, the Environmental Protection Organization, the Planning and Budget Organization, the government spokesperson and secretary, and other senior officials.