Hamid Bovard made the remarks on Tuesday (November 3) at a meeting reviewing the reconstruction of facilities at the Rey Oil Depot, which were damaged in the Third Imposed War. Referring to the oil industry's performance during the war and praising the efforts of its workers, he said: "During the war, people felt no shortage in fuel supply, and that was the result of the whole oil industry's hard work."

Saying the scale of the energy restrictions caused by the war must be explained to the public, he added: "In the gas sector in particular, people should be told that about a quarter of the country's gas capacity was lost in the imposed war, and that getting through the coming period requires conservation and consumption management."

The acting minister said the oil industry is making maximum use of all available capacity to produce and reliably supply fuel this winter, adding: "Given the capacity lost in the Third Imposed War, achieving our goals requires public cooperation in managing consumption."

Growth in gasoline consumption brought to zero

Bovard continued: "Even so, if the growth in gasoline consumption is not stopped, conditions will become difficult. The measures taken by the oil industry have so far held back about 6 percent of consumption growth, which is a significant figure, and in practice we have brought consumption growth down to roughly zero."

Referring to the targets set for managing gasoline use, he said: "Our goal is to reduce the country's gasoline consumption to at least the level of domestic production, around 115 million liters, so that no imports are needed. For gas oil, we must plan so that exports can increase."

Stressing the need for public support in managing gas consumption, the acting minister said: "I ask our dear people, particularly in industry and commercial units, to each become a base for promoting a culture of managing and controlling gas consumption."

Getting through this winter through gas consumption management

Bovard added: "If we can save 20 percent in gas consumption and, alongside that, deliver on the production-boosting measures now under way, which are also being pursued vigorously in Assaluyeh, we can get through this winter successfully too."

Pointing to two simultaneous challenges facing the country's gas industry, he said: "In gas we face a double problem. First, part of our production capacity has been lost. Second, we already had a gas imbalance before this. Last year, even though we had no production problem and gas output exceeded 1 billion cubic meters, a 50-year record, we still had an imbalance."

The acting minister continued: "This year, on top of the existing imbalance, part of our production capacity has also been lost. Nevertheless, through the work under way, 40 to 50 percent of the lost capacity has returned to production, and rebuilding the rest is being pursued at speed."

All sectors must take part in managing consumption

Bovard stressed that getting through the coming period is impossible without public cooperation, saying: "We must bring all sectors on board to take part in consumption management. Just as people stand firm in defending Iran, they can also take part in managing energy consumption."

Noting the need to turn heating down in the cold season, he said indoor temperatures at homes and offices should be set at 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. "Each one-degree reduction in room temperature can save about 25 million cubic meters of gas. So if we all join hands, we can get through this situation and crisis as well."

The acting oil minister voiced hope that, with the cooperation of the public and redoubled efforts by the oil industry, the country will pass the coming winter successfully and once again secure the pride of the Iranian nation and the defeat of its enemies.

Hamid Bovard, accompanied by Mohammad-Sadeq Azimifar, CEO of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC), Ahmad Zeraatkar, deputy oil minister for planning, and a number of senior refining-industry executives, toured the reconstruction work at the Rey Oil Depot on Tuesday, which was damaged in the Third Imposed War, and was briefed on the latest measures and progress on the project.