The director of coordination and supervising department at the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Mohammadreza Jolaei made the remarks during his visit to Ilam gas processing plant where he said that natural gas makes up 75 percent of the country's energy basket.

He further said that during his visit to Ilam gas processing plant, he found that the unit is operating with almost full capacity and is fully ready to cover the gas needs of the western part of the country and beyond that in winter.

"Maintenance is over across the country, and all gas processing plants are operating round the clock to meet the gas needs of all sectors, even though people are expected to optimize their consumption given the snap cold, which requires all sectors, from household to industry, to have access to gas.

He noted that household and business sectors consume 470 to 500 mcm/d of natural gas, so if gas consumption is managed at this level and people save gas consumption across the country, it will help the large industrial units to have smooth access to gas.