Hamid Bovard spoke on the sidelines of a visit to the fourth South Pars refinery. Nearly all reconstruction projects are on schedule, he said, but officials are looking to speed up the work.

"Given the country's situation and the need to be ready for winter, my colleagues have put all their effort into ensuring stable energy supplies," he said.

Special meetings are being held for each reconstruction project to address challenges and make decisions that will accelerate progress, Bovard said.

He said he hopes for a significant recovery of lost gas production capacity by late in the Iranian month of Azar, which ends Dec. 21.

Call for public cooperation

Bovard said all sectors must cooperate to get through the winter and keep gas supplies stable, and that the government will need the public's help.

"The people know we are facing a stubborn enemy," he said, adding that he hopes they will continue to stand with Iran as they have so far.

He urged consumers to manage their use of all energy carriers and avoid unnecessary consumption to support the work of oil industry crews in the field.

Tour of facilities

Bovard was accompanied by Arsalan Zare, governor general of Bushehr province, and Musa Ahmadi, head of the parliament's Energy Committee. The group also visited the Jam Petrochemical Co. and the Mobin Persian Gulf Energy complex.

At the third, fourth, fifth and sixth South Pars refineries, Bovard reviewed the latest status of reconstruction and steps taken to restore damaged sections.