With the start of winter and the rise in natural gas consumption, attention turns more than ever to gas producers across the country. Among them, EOGPC plays a vital role in supplying energy to the northeast. By operating the Khangiran fields (Mozdouran, Shourijeh B, Shourijeh D) and Gonbadli, the company has a significant share in stabilizing the national gas grid, especially in winter.

The importance of the company’s activities goes beyond production volume. Full preparation of facilities, implementation of overhauls before winter, strict compliance with safety standards, and efforts to maximize recovery from the joint Gonbadli field are among the measures that directly affect the country’s energy security. At a time when Iran faces energy imbalance, the performance of eastern fields and the role of the hardworking staff in this region have attracted greater attention. With winter 1404 approaching and the need for stable gas supply in the northern and northeastern provinces, East Oil and Gas is pursuing broad programs to boost production capacity, carry out repair operations, and bring development fields into operation.

Alireza Kamizi, acting head of EOGPC, spoke with Shana about production from the company’s fields, overhaul projects, and cooperation with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC).

How much gas production has been assigned to your company for winter 2025, and how is this divided among the fields?

According to the program and commitments set by NIOC, during the cold months this year the company will produce 65 million cubic meters of gas per day from its fields. Of this total, Mozdouran field will produce 45 million cubic meters per day, Shourijeh B 1.4 million cubic meters, Shourijeh D nearly 18 million cubic meters, and Gonbadli 0.6 million cubic meters. After processing at Shahid Hasheminejad Gas Refinery, the gas will be injected into the national grid to meet the energy needs of six northern and northeastern provinces.

Ensuring stable gas supply in winter requires full readiness of facilities. How was this year’s overhaul program carried out?

Repair operations are conducted at two levels: continuous maintenance and overhauls. We always try to start overhaul programs in early spring and complete them before the consumption peak in autumn. During annual overhauls, production is halted and repair and preventive work is carried out so facilities are ready for winter. Fortunately, this year we completed the overhaul program even a day ahead of schedule, which is a record in itself.

Overhauls usually carry safety risks. What measures were taken to control this?

To minimize risks during overhauls, all operations were carried out under close HSE supervision. Safety training, preventive drills, and strict adherence to safety procedures were implemented. As a result, the overhaul was completed without any incidents, which is a great achievement for us.

Public opinion often focuses on Iran’s recovery from joint oil and gas fields compared to neighboring countries. What is the current situation at Gonbadli field shared with Turkmenistan?

According to the measures taken, Iran’s gas production from the Gonbadli joint field is in line with NIOC’s assigned program. It should be emphasized that in joint fields, maximum recovery is always pursued within engineering considerations to secure national interests.

In recent years, repeated emphasis has been placed on the issue of gas imbalance. From your perspective, what is the root of this challenge, and what solutions do you suggest for managing consumption?

Gas consumption in the country has grown significantly over the past two decades, while the development of new fields and boosting production requires long timeframes and major investments. This has created the production-consumption imbalance. Our recommendation to the Iranian people is to save on household consumption: lowering home temperatures by a few degrees, using proper insulation and clothing, and preventing heat loss are simple yet effective measures. High household consumption leads to shortages for industries and power plants, so public cooperation is key.

What other technical measures have been taken to ensure production stability?

In addition to overhauls, repairs were carried out on metering equipment, gas collection facilities, and related wells. Also, in coordination with NIGC and Shahid Hasheminejad Gas Refinery, the necessary measures were taken to ensure stable transfer and injection of gas into the grid for maximum production during the cold season.

What is your message to company staff and the public as winter approaches?

I sincerely appreciate the tireless efforts of oil industry workers, especially colleagues at EOGPC, who work in difficult climatic and geographic conditions. To the dear people, I remind that any savings in gas consumption will greatly help sustain production and supply energy to industries, which in turn supports economic growth, welfare, and the comfort of the nation.

Interview by

Amir Eftekharipour