Iran, renowned for possessing one of the world’s largest gas reserves, finds itself grappling with a severe gas shortage, shedding light on the alarming consequences of the regime’s apparent incompetence.
As temperatures plummet across the nation, the surge in domestic gas consumption has created a glaring imbalance between production and demand.
In Razavi Khorasan province alone, industries are facing heightened restrictions, with 325 gas cutoff notices issued to high-consumption offices in a desperate attempt to avert gas shortages for households.
Hasan Eftekhari, CEO of Khorasan Razavi Gas Company, disclosed that the province has already witnessed 40 instances of gas cutoffs in high-consumption offices.
Reconnecting centers suffering from gas cutoffs now require a commitment and will be reported to the governorate, according to Eftekhari.
The dire situation extends beyond offices, impacting various industries in the province, some of which have experienced complete gas cuts or severe supply restrictions.
Notably, Khorasan Petrochemical revealed that, due to the harsh weather conditions and complete gas cutoff, ammonia and urea units are forced to cease production.
This crisis, however, is not confined to Khorasan, as northern and northeastern provinces of Iran face gas cuts earlier each year, acting as a harbinger of what may unfold in neighboring and central provinces.
Several factors contribute to this recurring gas crisis, including pressure drops at the end of the gas transmission network and the reduction or interruption of gas swaps with Turkmenistan during the cold season.
These issues have become persistent challenges in recent years, compromising the gas supply in cold seasons.
Despite Iran’s status as a gas-rich nation, its failure to effectively tap into its energy resources and the inadequacy of existing resources to meet domestic needs are evident.
Recent reports from the National Development Fund reveal that, despite a $100 billion investment in the expansive South Pars field, Iran’s gas production fails to match the exponential growth in consumption.
As of 2042, it is estimated that Iran can only meet one-third of its gas demand, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
This gas crisis is intricately linked to the broader issue of insufficient investment in Iran’s oil, gas, and petrochemical industry.
The lack of development and investment has not only inflated extraction costs but has also ignited conflicts in the realm of gas and gasoline, prompting concerns from experts who foresee potentially catastrophic consequences if immediate actions are not taken to address these systemic issues.
