Speaking at the Fourth International Conference on Energy Optimisation
and Efficiency in Iran, NPC’s director for energy consumption optimisation said
“people-centric energy efficiency” was a key strategy for addressing the
country’s energy imbalance.
He said consumers should not be blamed for high energy use, arguing
that many challenges stem from weaknesses in governance, policymaking and
incomplete implementation of existing regulations.
Field experience shows that with well-designed mechanisms and the
participation of citizens and non-governmental organisations, energy
consumption can be managed without reducing living standards, he said.
Referring to a nationwide energy-saving campaign implemented with the
National Iranian Gas Company and civil society groups, the official said the
initiative demonstrated how social participation could be translated into
practical action by motivating households and communities to reduce
consumption.
He invited the public to take part in a campaign aimed at cutting
energy use by 10%, expressing hope that participation—particularly in the
northern provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan—would help advance
provincial energy efficiency projects and address outstanding social
challenges.
The official said the petrochemical sector accounts for less than 10%
of Iran’s natural gas consumption, noting that winter supply restrictions on
gas-based units reduce output and national revenues, indirectly placing
pressure on society. Decisions on seasonal restrictions, he said, should be
taken with a broader economic and national perspective.
He also criticised multi-tiered and inconsistent energy pricing
policies, saying significant price gaps between sectors send misleading signals
to consumers and investors and hinder the adoption of efficient technologies.
Addressing industrial self-sufficiency in power generation, he said
industries building their own power plants to ease the burden on the state
should receive fairer fuel pricing and incentives. Energy efficiency measures
within the petrochemical sector have saved the equivalent of 1.7 billion cubic
metres of gas in recent years, he added.
He said that despite existing laws and regulations, complex procedures
have limited the appeal of the energy efficiency market, calling for simpler,
more transparent and economically viable mechanisms for participation and for
issuing energy-saving certificates.
In closing, he urged reforms in energy governance, prioritisation of
gas allocation to higher value-added export industries during peak demand
periods, stronger incentives for participation in energy efficiency markets,
easier trading of gas and electricity certificates, pricing reforms for
efficiency certificates, and greater support for investment in renewable power
generation, including through tax exemptions.