Speaking on Monday, Mohsen Paknejad stated that this year, the cold weather arrived earlier, spreading nationwide in November, adding that normally, such temperature drops and cold spells occur in late December. “This early onset of winter has affected fuel reserves at power plants.”

Daily delivery of 50m liters of diesel to power plants

The minister noted that alongside the harsh cold and energy imbalance, significant new records in fuel supply have been achieved.

He said, "Between 850 to 855 million cubic meters of gas are injected into the network daily, while residential consumption reached 640 million cubic meters yesterday—a staggering figure." 

Paknejad emphasized that the high residential consumption forces limitations on gas distribution to other sectors, such as power plants and major industries, due to capacity constraints.

He added, "Currently, 50 million liters of diesel are being delivered daily to power plants—a 200-250% increase compared to the same period last year." 

The minister highlighted the efforts of both the Ministry of Oil and the Ministry of Energy to ensure optimal performance and minimize power outages.

Energy consumption in Iran twice the global average

Paknejad described energy consumption in Iran as significantly higher than the global average.

He explained, "The energy intensity index, which measures energy used per unit of GDP, is four times the global average in Iran. The country ranks among the top ten globally with the worst performance in this area and leads the Middle East in energy intensity." 

The minister noted that under current conditions, there is no choice but to manage energy consumption in residential, commercial, and non-essential industrial sectors.

"Many home heaters have efficiency levels below 30%, with 70% of the energy wasted as exhaust," he said.

Comprehensive plans to boost production

Paknejad stressed that alongside consumption management, increasing production is a key strategy to address the energy imbalance.

"This responsibility falls on the Ministry of Oil, which has fundamental plans to increase gas production capacity," he said.  

The minister added that these plans include projects to capture flared gas and develop new fields.

However, Paknejad warned, "Despite increased production, consumption continues to outpace it due to inefficient usage. The question is, how much longer can the country bear the cost of this excessive consumption in unproductive sectors?"

"Two Degrees Less" campaign to overcome crisis

The minister called for optimized consumption as the best solution to the energy imbalance, a measure endorsed by experts.

"Part of this requires cultural efforts, and media outlets, including the national broadcaster, have addressed the issue. However, personal behavior and encouraging family members to conserve energy play a crucial role," he said. 

He pointed out the significant impact of reducing heating system temperatures during this crisis.

"For every degree reduction in heating system temperatures, nearly 25 million cubic meters of gas can be saved—equivalent to the output of a South Pars phase," he explained. 

Paknejad highlighted the "Two Degrees Less" campaign, which aims to reduce heating temperatures by two degrees. "If widely supported, this could save around 50 million cubic meters of gas daily, providing critical relief in these challenging circumstances."

No issues with gas delivery to refineries

The minister assured that upstream efforts by National Iranian Oil Company staff have resulted in increased raw gas extraction. "Currently, there are no issues in delivering gas to refineries," Paknejad said. 

He concluded that gas refineries, transmission pipelines, and pressure stations are operating efficiently, ensuring the stability of gas delivery across the country.