Speaking during a meeting at the Oil Ministry on winter fuel supply attended by the deputy executive of the president, ministers of oil and industry, as well as the head of the Plan and Budget Organization, Abbas Aliabadi said: “Significant efforts are underway within the government to address energy imbalances.”

The official went on to say that “Currently, there are no issues with the production of energy converters, and the country has the capacity to produce 59,000 megawatts of electricity, provided the required fuel is supplied.”

He highlighted the ministry’s focus on increasing solar panel usage to reduce fuel dependency, adding, “A portion of solar power generation capacity has been realized, and we have ambitious plans for further development. We are targeting the generation of 30,000 MW of solar power by next winter to ensure adequate electricity supply.”

Aliabadi noted that electricity production during the summer depends on both consumption levels and fuel availability, predicting an increase of 8,000 to 9,000 megawatts in electricity generation next summer compared to this year.

However, he emphasized that this goal relies heavily on public consumption patterns. “If consumption aligns with acceptable global standards, there will be no issues in electricity supply,” he noted.

The minister acknowledged past efforts to secure fuel for power plants but admitted they were insufficient, leading to a fuel shortfall. “The current administration is prioritizing efforts to address these imbalances,” stated the official.

Gov’t after reducing consumption

That the government has issued directives to minimize fuel consumption, particularly in public offices, where systems are being shut down to achieve the lowest usage levels, Aliabadi stated adding that these measures may continue in the coming weeks.

He explained that significant amounts of fuel are consumed by power plants during the winter, sourced from various categories, including natural gas, fuel oil, and diesel.

Due to environmental restrictions, the use of fuel oil is limited in urban areas and, when necessary, only low-sulfur fuel oil is utilized. Diesel is used as an alternative fuel for power plants, and the Oil Ministry is working to maximize its supply.

Aiming for minimal outages during winter

Aliabadi reaffirmed that diesel supply has improved in recent days, meeting the demands of power plants. He said this meeting was convened to prevent disruptions during the colder months, emphasizing the need for preparedness as temperatures drop across the country.

“The government is taking smart steps to minimize the impact on the public,” he concluded, adding that the aim is to navigate the winter with the least possible outages through the measures being implemented.