Speaking on the sidelines of the second day of the 29th Iran
International Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition, Saeed Tavakkoli
told NIPNA that effective collaboration has been established with the NPC to
allocate available gas to the sector. “We provide the volume of gas that can be
allocated, and the NPC’s production control management handles its distribution
among the petrochemical units,” he said.
Delegating feedstock allocation to sector stakeholders has
proven to be “more efficient and rational,” Tavakkoli noted, preventing
potential coordination challenges.
Highlighting the company’s performance during the severe
winter of 2024, Tavakkoli said Iran’s gas network achieved a record daily dry
gas production of 880 million cubic meters for the first time, driven by
integrated management within the oil ministry. A 30 million cubic meter
production boost in less than three months was among the season’s major
achievements, he added.
In November 2023, a cold snap originating in Scandinavia
swept into 11 northern Iranian provinces, dropping temperatures by as much as
12°C. Despite understocked diesel storage, energy supply was maintained through
round-the-clock management. That autumn also saw record demand, with 900,000
new consumers joining the network amid the warmest fall in five decades,
according to the national meteorological service.
Tavakkoli emphasized that preparations for the 2025 winter
began early in the year. During peak cold days in early April, inlet pressure
at CGS stations reached 36 PSI, yet gas distribution continued without
disruption, especially in northern regions.
The country faced an anticipated supply-demand imbalance of
150 million cubic meters, peaking at 350 million on certain days. “This
structural gap is not new—it stems from years of mismatch between production
and consumption,” he said.
Despite these challenges, NIGC expanded its operations in
2024, bringing 17 gas compressor stations online and deploying 30 turbo
compressors across key sites. Transmission capacity through the eastern
corridor also rose by 50 million cubic meters.
Even as overhaul operations continued through November 2023,
gas supply stability was preserved. At times, Phase 1 refinery teams delivered
up to 39 million cubic meters—well above the nominal 25 million cubic meter
capacity—thanks to calculated engineering risks and expert efforts.
Tavakkoli also praised early fuel management meetings
convened by the oil minister, crediting them with ensuring preparedness and
clear task allocation across ministry departments. “Despite all the hardships,
the national gas grid remained fully stable,” he concluded.