According to the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Valiollah Dini made the remarks during a meeting marking the start of installing high-efficiency heaters in Zanjan, part of a national plan to replace 4.1 million old heaters. The program aims to improve safety, reduce gas consumption and optimize energy use in the residential sector.

Dini said full implementation of the plan is expected to save about 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually nationwide. “This initiative, along with lowering household costs, plays a key role in ensuring the stability of the gas supply network and preserving national resources,” he said.

He noted that more than 22 million heaters are currently installed across the country and that older, low-efficiency models have significantly increased gas consumption. Cold provinces such as Khorasan, East and West Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan, Gilan and Qazvin are prioritized for implementation, he added.

Highlighting the technical advantages of the new units, Dini said the high-efficiency heaters feature an energy grade of A and an 85% efficiency rate. “They not only reduce carbon monoxide emissions considerably but also offer a high level of safety,” he said.

Dini emphasized that each high-efficiency heater saves about 466 cubic meters of natural gas annually, a substantial contribution to national energy management. “The gas saved in households can be utilized in productive sectors such as industry,” he said.

He added that the project’s implementation began several months ago, with the first phase focusing on educational, administrative and military facilities, as well as households supported by the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee and the Welfare Organization.