TEHRAN – Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has stressed the need to manage the energy imbalance in winter and described public cooperation, the support of executive agencies, a reform of consumption patterns and managers’ leadership in saving energy as requirements for a stable energy supply and for preventing disruption to the country’s economic and production activities.
Addressing an online to a meeting of the Gilan Provincial Planning and Development Council on Thursday, President Pezeshkian said that the government has held numerous meetings with energy managers and officials. He said: “Over the past days, many meetings have been held to review the state of energy supply, and the issue remains on the government’s agenda so that more precise planning can be done to supply the energy needed by households, industry and production in the coming months, especially winter.”
Describing the difficult state of the country’s gas supply and the damage done to energy infrastructure, he said: “Previously, the country’s gas supply capacity was about 350 million cubic meters, but under current conditions we face a considerable shortfall, and about 230 million cubic meters of the country’s daily gas capacity has come under attack. In addition, some condensate facilities and power plants have also been damaged.”
Referring to the government’s efforts to get through the difficult energy supply conditions of recent months, the president added: “Through the efforts of ministers, managers and officials, we were able to manage the summer conditions, but for the winter ahead we need a special plan, and in this effort the cooperation of the people, executive agencies and the country’s cultural and social capacities is essential.”
Stressing the need to keep supplying the electricity and gas required by the production sector, Pezeshkian said: “The government is working seriously to return damaged facilities to the production cycle as far as possible, and we hope that by the time of peak consumption we can bring about 100 to 140 million cubic meters of the lost capacity back into the cycle. Nevertheless, managing the existing shortfall will not be possible without saving.”
Emphasizing the need to reform consumption patterns in executive agencies, he explained: “Managers can create considerable savings by upgrading boiler rooms, reducing electricity use and building heating, and maintaining an appropriate temperature in the workplace. By wearing warm clothing, office buildings can even be kept below 18 degrees so that more energy remains for the country’s industry and production.”
The president stressed: “If all agencies and the people cooperate in this, energy consumption can be managed without disrupting economic activity, employment and production; but if we fail to manage these conditions properly, we will face serious problems.”
Pointing to the need to form specialized consumption-management groups in the provinces, Pezeshkian said: “Governorates, county governorates and the heads of executive agencies must form specific teams and use their full capacity to save energy.”
Citing the successful experience of reducing consumption at the Plan and Budget Organization, he added: “Over the past two years, by reforming methods and managing consumption, this organization has cut its use of electricity, gas and water by about 50 percent. This experience shows that, through behavioral change and proper resource management, a significant reduction in consumption is possible in other agencies too.”
Stressing that building a culture of optimal consumption must begin with managers’ behavior, the president said: “We cannot expect the people to save through words alone; managers’ behavior must show that they believe what they say. Every manager must provide a specific report on the savings achieved in water, electricity, gas, gasoline and other fuels.”
Pezeshkian concluded: “The more we can prevent waste of resources, the more strength we will have to manage other programs, projects and the credits we need. Considerable resources are being wasted in the country, and by managing them, many of the provinces’ problems can be solved.”