TEHRAN – Caretaker oil minister, Hamid Bovard, said Monday that the oil industry’s production and development programs will continue vigorously through unity and cooperation, in line with the 14th administration’s policy of consensus.
Speaking at a meeting of the Oil Ministry’s deputy ministers’ council, Bovard thanked former oil minister Mohsen Paknejad for his efforts and said the ministry would continue pursuing its production and development plans with the same determination.
Bovard said the ministry was also pursuing detailed plans to rebuild facilities damaged during the war and strengthen oil sales in an effort to overcome the challenges ahead.
Referring to the country’s current circumstances, Bovard called for unity across the oil industry to overcome difficult conditions.
“We must all work together to overcome these difficult challenges,” he said, stressing the need to work with a national perspective to advance the country’s interests.
Bovard also highlighted the contributions of both former and current managers to the achievements of the 14th administration’s oil industry. He said significant measures had been implemented and that part of the industry’s current position was attributable to the performance of the former oil minister.
“We are continuing along the same path with greater intensity and determination,” he said.
Bovard acknowledged that differences could exist in management approaches or methods of implementation, but said such differences should not affect the industry’s fundamental course of action.
Bovard said ensuring a stable supply of winter fuel must receive special attention this year, particularly following damage inflicted on the country’s gas infrastructure.
He called for close coordination and cooperation among all sectors of the oil industry to safeguard production and ensure reliable winter fuel supplies.
Bovard said reports from the National Iranian Oil Products Refining and Distribution Company indicated that liquid-fuel inventories were at an appropriate level, adding that efforts should focus on ensuring effective fuel distribution and supply management.
He also called on the National Iranian Gas Company to take appropriate measures to curb excessive consumption and promote responsible gas use.
“If we can achieve a 10% reduction in consumption, it will be a very important achievement,” Bovard said.
He stressed the important role of the public in ensuring stable winter fuel supplies and called on people to cooperate with the government in using energy carriers, particularly natural gas.
Bovard also highlighted the petrochemical industry’s role in supplying the country with foreign currency, saying continued production and exports of petrochemical products would help strengthen foreign-exchange revenues and support the national economy.
He said the ministry would seriously pursue measures to sustain production, remove obstacles to exports and make maximum use of the industry’s available capacity.
Bovard called for the identification of the oil industry’s key challenges and priorities, urging managers to continue working together in the interests of the industry and the country.
“What matters is that the work must not stop,” he said.