Mohsen Paknejad, during a visit to the Parchin Gas Pressure Boosting Station on Saturday, remarked that on the eve of the 46th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, he had the opportunity to visit one of the hundreds of operational centers of the oil industry and meet with his colleagues there.

He emphasized that although it is a holiday, his colleagues in the operational units of the oil industry are working around the clock without the defined holidays that the general public enjoys, to deliver energy carriers to consumption centers.

This effort supports both industrial sectors that contribute to the country's economic growth and the public welfare sector, ensuring that our citizens benefit from natural gas and have warm homes during these cold winter days.

Self-sufficiency in various sectors of oil industry

The minister congratulated all oil industry colleagues on the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution's victory, extending his gratitude to those working on oil and gas production platforms in the Persian Gulf and across the country. He praised their hard work and dedication.

Paknejad highlighted the achievements of the oil industry since the Islamic Revolution, noting that when foreigners left the industry, it might have been hard for them to believe that our colleagues and oil industry workers could manage this complex industry from upstream to downstream without their presence.

He pointed out that today, self-sufficiency has been achieved in various sectors of the oil industry, including equipment and the development of oil and gas fields. With these capabilities, the oil and gas industry is largely managed by domestic sectors.

Need for greater focus on demand, consumption management

The minister commended the excellent performance of the colleagues at the Parchin Gas Pressure Boosting Station in turbine repairs.

He noted that a series of actions are being carried out by the colleagues of this unit using their capabilities and the training they have received, within the scheduled time frame required for major repairs.

Paknejad spoke about the stability of the country's gas supply network in light of the upcoming cold weather, stating that for many years, the country has faced imbalances in various energy carriers, and this is not a recent issue. Gas is one of these sectors.

He mentioned that part of the solution to the energy imbalance in the gas sector is increasing production. Plans have been made to develop onshore and offshore fields, develop new gas fields, and increase pressure in the South Pars gas field to boost gas production.

Call for gas consumption savings

The minister stated that demand management and consumption optimization are also crucial for addressing energy imbalances.

He said that if we cannot implement the necessary measures and monitor consumption, no matter how much we invest in production, consumption will always exceed production, and the imbalance will not be resolved. Therefore, in addition to increasing production, we must focus on the structure of demand and consumption management and its optimization.

Paknejad added that demand and consumption management and optimization involve various strategies, such as using high-efficiency gas heaters and adhering to building regulations. We must be active in both increasing production and managing energy consumption.

He emphasized that with the recent rainfall in the country, we are approaching the coldest days of the current Iranian year of 1403 (started March 20, 2024), and gas consumption in residential, commercial, and non-major industrial sectors is increasing.

To maintain the stability of the network and gas supply across the country, he urged all citizens to save gas as much as possible. Regarding the signing of contracts for pressure boosting in South Pars, the minister of oil stated that these contracts will be signed soon.