Speaking at a Supreme Energy Council meeting chaired by Aref, officials reviewed proposed gas-consumption management scenarios for households, commercial and public sectors, industries, agriculture, transportation and power plants during the four coldest months of the year. Consumption allocations for each sector were approved.

The meeting was attended by the ministers of petroleum; industry, mine and trade; energy; agriculture; and economic affairs and finance, along with the head of the Plan and Budget Organization, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization, the head of the Energy Optimization and Strategic Management Organization, and the government spokesman.

Officials stressed the need to continue increasing gas production capacity while promoting conservation among households, the private sector and government agencies.

Energy Imbalances Improving

Aref said the country had made significant progress in reducing energy imbalances, particularly in gas supplies, in recent months.

He said energy infrastructure had been damaged during the latest war, but round-the-clock efforts had restored part of the affected capacity, with work continuing to bring the remaining facilities back into operation as quickly as possible.

Aref also highlighted the government's solar-energy development program, saying President Masoud Pezeshkian holds several expert-level meetings each week to advance plans to address part of the country's energy imbalance through solar power.

Industry, Agriculture Priorities

Aref said ensuring energy supplies for industry and agriculture was a fundamental government priority, while maintaining reliable energy supplies for households was another key objective.

With colder weather expected from mid-autumn, he urged consumers to reduce their electricity and gas use to help maintain the stability of the national energy network.

He warned that the government could face pressure to impose some power restrictions in order to protect energy supplies for industry and prevent damage to production and employment.

“Cutting electricity to industries means halting production, putting workers out of jobs, negative economic growth, lower export revenues and losing regional markets,” Aref said.

Higher Costs for Heavy Users

Aref called for greater public cooperation in reducing energy consumption and said that, if necessary, energy consumed by high-income households in the highest consumption brackets, particularly those with swimming pools or villas, could be charged at its full cost.

He said about 250 mcm of gas capacity has been lost from the national network, but the government is working to restore 100 mcm before the beginning of winter.

All relevant government agencies are working toward that goal, he said, adding that the president has stressed that electricity and gas supplies to industrial and production units should not be cut.

Aref also said some consumers were willing to pay penalties rather than reduce their consumption, highlighting the need for greater public awareness and a stronger culture of energy conservation.

Government Seeks to Protect Gas Supplies

Aref reiterated that supplying energy to the productive sectors remains a government priority and said maintaining network stability was essential to preventing gas shortages in different parts of the country.

“I am concerned about gas supplies being cut in some parts of the country,” he said, adding that government agencies, with public cooperation, would work to prevent such disruptions.

He called on the Supreme Energy Council to develop a plan to reduce energy consumption in the household and government sectors.

The government, he said, must also contribute to conservation efforts, including by subsidizing the distribution of energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment.

Aref concluded by urging government ministers and officials to adopt a comprehensive approach to energy management and share responsibility for maintaining network stability and ensuring gas supplies for both productive sectors and households.