Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the cabinet meeting today, the minister stated that the energy imbalance is an issue that needs to be examined from various aspects. According to him, a part of the energy imbalance is related to the energy carriers’ production, which needs to be increased, adding that the country faces some challenges in increasing production, including a lack of enough financial resources that should be addressed.

He added: “Another important part of the energy imbalance is related to optimizing consumption, demand management, and consumption management. These issues also have solutions, and a significant part of the effort rests on the people’s shoulders who must cooperate to resolve the imbalance gradually.”

Paknejad emphasized that the energy imbalance is not an issue that has arisen within one or two years but it is the result of many years, involving factors such as delayed investments which its solving will take time.

The minister of petroleum referred to the discussions about increasing the prices of energy carriers, stating: “There are no plans or programs on the government’s agenda for this issue because it goes beyond the Ministry of Petroleum authorities, and the country’s governing structure must make decisions in this regard even though our priority is moving towards demand and consumption management.”

Referring to the recent visit of a Russian delegation to Tehran, Paknejad said: “In these negotiations, discussions about gas trade were raised to change the Islamic Republic of Iran to an energy hub in the region, a goal which will be pursued.”

Responding to a question on the country’s energy situation during the cold season, he said: Our focus is on getting through the cold season with minimum challenges.