“I’m proud of my colleagues in the gas industry,” said Saeid Tavakoli. “They stood strong and performed exceptionally well under pressure. Their tireless work and compassion helped us emerge from a difficult winter with our heads held high. I sincerely thank each and every one of them.”

Winter 2024-25 (Iranian year 1403) was marked by extreme cold, widespread low temperatures, and surging energy demand. These conditions, coupled with delayed maintenance at refineries and pipelines, reduced fuel reserves at power plants, and sudden temperature drops, presented major challenges for the newly installed administration of President Pezeshkian.

Despite these obstacles, Tavakoli credited the Ministry of Oil’s unified approach, special measures by the oil minister, and seamless interdepartmental coordination for ensuring no non-technical gas outages occurred. “The gas network remained stable, and no household faced an unexplained interruption,” he said.

Exceptional cold, sustained demand

Tavakoli described the winter as “extraordinary,” noting the cold spell lasted over 70 days—compared to the typical 14 to 15 days in past years. The widespread freeze impacted much of the country and required a coordinated national response.

Upon assuming office in September 2024, the new administration faced unprecedented conditions. Key refinery and pipeline maintenance extended into November, fuel reserves were 850 million liters below the previous year, and cold Scandinavian weather systems dropped temperatures across 11 provinces by up to 12°C.

Key measures, record gas production

To manage the crisis, the NIGC implemented several emergency measures, including boosting gas production, increasing diesel transport, and ensuring coordination across government agencies.

Thanks to these steps, despite a 3.7°C average temperature drop and a 75 million cubic meter daily increase in consumption, gas was delivered uninterrupted to residential, commercial, and small industrial users. Tavakoli said gas turbine performance increased by 21 percent and 17 auxiliary gas stations were brought online for approximately three months.

Gas transfer capacities were also expanded, particularly in eastern corridors, where volume jumped from 220 million to 270 million cubic meters. Dry gas production hit a record 880 million cubic meters per day, a milestone even industry experts had not predicted. Additionally, 30 turbo compressors operated under critical conditions, and gas transmission from the south to the north increased by nearly 50 million cubic meters.

Power plants, maintenance

Supplying power plants was another major challenge. While 1402 saw a surplus in gas supply due to reduced Turkish demand, NIGC still managed to deliver more gas to power stations in 1403 than the year prior.

Tavakoli noted that major facility maintenance had not been fully completed by the time his administration took over. Emergency repairs, including at 12 welding points along the eighth national pipeline, were completed swiftly and without disrupting the network.

Preparedness, structural resilience

According to Tavakoli, the crisis turned into an opportunity to test and reinforce the gas network's resilience. A unified government front, with consistent communication among the four main companies of the Oil Ministry, helped the country pass the harsh season without critical failures.

He said many achievements were the result of coordinated efforts among personnel in refineries, compressor stations, high-pressure pipelines, and distribution networks.

Public campaigns, demand management

The nationwide "2 Degrees Less" campaign, backed by President Pezeshkianand supported by 700 public figures, helped reduce gas demand by 44 million cubic meters on Dec. 17. This reduction also contributed to lower electricity consumption during peak demand.

Energy efficiency and demand-side management became a key government focus in 1403, Tavakoli said. Several legal and regulatory initiatives were revived, including Articles 26 and 57 of the Energy Consumption Reform Law. There was also an emphasis on improving consumer awareness and encouraging the purchase of high-efficiency appliances.

Major accomplishments in 1403

Among the year’s major accomplishments, Tavakoli cited improved synergy within NIGC and the delivery of services to over 95% of the population. The company also saw an average 18 million cubic meter daily increase in pipeline deliveries compared to 1402, and began implementing a gas swap agreement moving 2 billion cubic meters annually from Turkmenistan to Turkey via Iran.

Other achievements included:

- Gasification of two cities and 400 villages.

- Service to nearly 3,700 small and large industries.

- Supply to three new power plants in underserved areas.

- Launch of key pipeline projects, such as the 50-kilometer Tiran-Dehaq line and the 260-kilometer extension of the ninth national pipeline to Marand.

- Operation of the Nehbandan-Sarbisheh pipeline expected in 2025.

- More than 21% growth in gas turbine performance.

- Reduced maintenance times across refineries and compressor stations.

- Upgraded national dispatching systems.

- New pricing policies for heavy gas users.

- Allocation of $1.2 trillion rials in fuel-saving bonds for renewable energy.

- Return on $4.2 trillion rials in optimization investments under Article 12 of the Production Barrier Removal Law.

- Commissioning of the Rasht–Chelvand pipeline, adding 10 million cubic meters to the grid.

Future outlook

Looking ahead, the administration is preparing a national optimization roadmap and encouraging energy-efficient investments. A 10% gas reduction campaign for industries helped them access gas even during shortages and was hailed as a success.

Tavakoli concluded by highlighting the exceptional nature of the year: “This was a unique year, and though not all its challenges can be discussed publicly, our colleagues in the industry know what we accomplished together.”