The managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company said 7,924 gas facilities were damaged during the third imposed war, temporarily taking 230 million cubic meters per day of the country’s gas production capacity offline — about one-third of total capacity at the time.
Saeid Tavakoli said Tuesday that recovery efforts began from the early days of the conflict, with part of the lost production capacity expected to return to service before the start of winter.
He said gas deliveries to some industries and small businesses were about 1 billion cubic meters higher than last year. Major industries, particularly steel and petrochemical producers, also faced no restrictions on gas supplies, although some of their facilities were damaged during the war.
Tavakoli said the extensive damage to gas infrastructure required a major reconstruction effort, but added that repairs and efforts to restore lost capacity are progressing rapidly through coordinated planning and action.
He praised gas-sector employees, particularly those working in Asaluyeh, for continuing reconstruction work under difficult conditions and extreme summer heat. Despite the extensive damage, he said, no sector has so far faced restrictions on gas supplies.
High-Consuming Customers Referred to Energy Service Companies
Tavakoli said 8.5% of high-consumption gas customers have been referred to energy service companies under a new cooperation program aimed at improving efficiency.
He said service centers are equipped to handle customer requests and complaints, while customers can also follow up on their cases through service desks and the National Iranian Gas Co.’s online system. Once metering systems are checked and their accuracy confirmed, customer data is provided to energy service companies so they can conduct inspections and recommend measures to reduce consumption.
Many consumption problems, Tavakoli said, can be addressed through simple changes. Outdated heating and cooling systems, particularly in some rural areas, are among the main sources of gas waste.
He said an examination of bills for high-consuming customers showed that luxury uses were sometimes the main reason for unusually high charges. In some parts of Tehran last year, gas bills reached 1 billion rials for properties with indoor and outdoor swimming pools and other nonstandard uses.
Tavakoli said deterrent policies and corrective measures have encouraged a significant number of high-consuming customers to upgrade equipment and improve efficiency. Some energy-intensive systems, including absorption chillers, have also been reviewed and modified.