Gholamreza Koushki, head of the Gas Network Operation Control Center in Iran, announced that gas consumption in the residential and commercial sectors reached 57% of production in November. Highlighting the high levels of consumption, he issued a warning regarding gas usage. Meanwhile, the “Payam-e Ma” newspaper reported that bakeries are reverting to using diesel fuel and noted that the government aims to convert bakeries into dual-fuel systems.
Koushki emphasized that with colder weather, daily gas consumption in the residential and commercial sectors in November increased by 80 to 85 million cubic meters compared to the same period last year, which could lead to further problems.
According to Koushki, on November 15, gas consumption in the residential and commercial sectors reached 475 million cubic meters. He noted that this level of consumption was recorded in December last year.
Analysts believe that the remarks of this government official have heightened concerns about potential gas rationing for industries and households in the coming months, as imbalances in this sector are inevitable and the government has no other option but to cut gas supplies to manage consumption.
These warnings come as the Iranian regime implemented widespread blackouts across the country last week following a crisis in the supply of electricity.
In this context, Hashem Oraee, a professor at Sharif University of Technology, told the state-run ILNA news agency: “This year, the liquid fuel reserves of power plants have decreased by 45% compared to the same period last year, and they are now half of what they were last year.”
Oraee emphasized that for every one-degree drop in temperature, household gas consumption increases by 10 million cubic meters, with 70% of gas consumption directed toward the residential sector.
According to this university professor, at best, gas production was 850 million cubic meters, but it has now decreased to 800 million cubic meters per day.
This situation has also raised concerns about ensuring the bread supply, prompting the government to require bakeries to use dual-fuel equipment before the onset of winter so they can continue operating on diesel in case of gas outages.
The “Payam-e Ma” newspaper also stressed that there is no guarantee of providing the necessary fuel for bakeries. The report stated: “If the government implements the use of electric generators instead of supplying electricity from the urban grid, it must also provide the necessary diesel or gasoline for these generators as subsidized fuel for the bakeries.”
The decision to convert bakeries to diesel use due to the likelihood of widespread gas outages in the coming months is being made at a time when part of the reason for power outages in the country is a shortage of diesel. It is unclear whether the government will be able to supply the fuel needed for bakeries.
