Masoumeh Aqapour Alishahi, presidential adviser
on economic cooperation, told the closing ceremony of the “10% Energy
Consumption Reduction” campaign that the mismatch between energy supply and
demand had become a “super-crisis” under the 14th government.
“Energy imbalance must be contained with the help
of the government, the people and cultural change,” she said, adding that
energy-saving measures should be institutionalised nationwide and that the
campaign could serve as both a domestic and international model.
She urged gradual reform of Iran’s heavily
subsidised fuel and electricity tariffs over a five-year period, warning that
much of the country’s exports amounted to “the export of energy subsidies.”
Many low-value products are shipped at prices below the cost of energy and
transport, she noted.
Aqapour also said younger generations,
particularly Gen Z and Alpha – some 28 million Iranians – were more open to
technology-driven, smart solutions for efficiency and should be given a greater
role in energy-saving initiatives.
Highlighting renewable energy, she pointed to
progress on solar panel installation but said development had been too slow
given constraints. “In this context, optimising consumption becomes twice as
important,” she added.
Aqapour praised the oil ministry and
petrochemical firms for their backing of the campaign, and suggested that part
of future savings be channelled into cultural and social projects such as
public concerts to boost community engagement.