According to the National Petrochemical Company, Ali Rabani told the first joint meeting of energy managers from Oil Ministry subsidiaries that systematic cooperation among companies is essential. He said the industry has achieved 1.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas savings in four years and aims for more than 200 million cubic meters of annual savings in the current year.

Rabani noted the petrochemical sector’s active role in national energy-management initiatives and its collaboration with the National Iranian Gas Company, including a campaign to cut gas and electricity use by 10 percent. He said these efforts have helped reduce consumption in residential, public and commercial sectors.

Rabani said 150 megawatts of renewable power plants have so far been commissioned in the petrochemical industry and that another 250 megawatts will be added to the country’s clean-power capacity by year-end. He added that plans are underway for new-energy investments exceeding 10,000 megawatts.

He said the petrochemical sector is also working to facilitate private-sector investment in renewables through proposed incentive packages that include tax breaks, tariff reforms and the use of electricity and gas market mechanisms.

Energy Savings Certificates Called Key Tool

Ali-Asghar Rajabi, energy and carbon director at the National Iranian Gas Company, said expanding the energy-savings certificate market is an effective tool for reducing the country’s energy imbalance. He stressed the need to streamline processes for registering, measuring and verifying efficiency projects in the market.

He said public awareness, technology upgrades and managerial reforms are essential to reduce significant energy losses in residential and agricultural sectors. Rajabi added that cooperation between the gas and petrochemical companies on off-industry projects has produced positive outcomes and can serve as a model for other sectors.

Refining Sector Implements Over $550m in Optimization Projects

A representative of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company presented an overview of energy use in refineries, saying the sector consumes roughly 60 million barrels of oil equivalent annually.

He said the refining sector has carried out more than $550 million worth of optimization projects and implemented energy-management standards. All refineries, he added, are now aligned with national energy-consumption benchmarks. He also emphasized the need for expanded cooperation with Oil Ministry subsidiaries.

The first joint meeting of energy managers from Oil Ministry subsidiaries was hosted by the National Petrochemical Company to promote coordination, exchange experience and review energy-efficiency strategies. Energy managers and experts from the ministry’s four major companies discussed recent actions and plans related to energy optimization in gas, refining and petrochemicals; the country’s energy imbalance; pricing challenges; regulations; and how consumption in various sectors aligns with energy benchmarks.