Iranian state media, citing Mohammad Jafar Ghaem-Panah, Executive Vice President to President Masoud Pezeshkian, reported that the country is confronting severe energy imbalances that require immediate management.
Ghaem-Panah stated that, following US and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian refineries during the recent war, the government forecasts a daily gas deficit of “approximately 100 million cubic metres during the winter.”
According to the Executive Vice President, a specific, actionable consumption model for water, gas, electricity and other energy carriers will be established for every province. Monthly quotas will be communicated to regional authorities based on local conditions and designated administrative mechanisms.
Energy imbalances across all seasons have long presented a major structural challenge for Iranian officials.
On Thursday, July 30, alongside the Vice President’s remarks, media outlets quoted the Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, Mohammad Atabak, as announcing planned reductions in electricity and gas restrictions for industrial facilities.
Atabak indicated that, under directives from President Masoud Pezeshkian and in coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum, energy supply limits for industrial parks and energy-intensive manufacturing units are expected to be eased.
Highlighting the strain that energy deficits have placed on production, Atabak noted: “Electricity and energy restrictions over recent months have created severe operational challenges, particularly for energy-intensive sectors such as steel and businesses operating within industrial zones.”
The Minister of Industry noted that national gas production currently stands at “around 850 million cubic metres daily,” with plans to allocate “between 115 and 120 million cubic metres” to the industrial sector. Decisions regarding operational limits will continue to be coordinated with the Ministry of Petroleum based on evolving conditions.
Iran’s energy infrastructure sustained damage during US and Israeli airstrikes against Iranian targets, further worsening existing structural energy shortfalls and gas deficits.