Speaking to
the parliament’s Khaneh Mellat news service after attending a meeting of the
Energy Commission, Paknejad said measures were underway to ensure uninterrupted
fuel supplies to power plants and industries when household and commercial gas
consumption rises.
He also
reported that part of Iran’s lost natural gas processing capacity had been
restored following damage to four gas refineries during the war late last year.
Gas
processing capacity partially restored
Paknejad said
the shutdown of four gas refineries had reduced Iran’s gas processing capacity
by about 230 million cubic metres per day.
Efforts by
the oil industry, including the use of available capacity at other refineries,
had recovered nearly 100 million cubic metres per day of the lost capacity, he
said.
However, a
shortfall of more than 120 million cubic metres per day remains, adding to the
country’s existing natural gas imbalance this year and requiring carefully
planned management measures, the minister added.
Liquid
fuel to cover winter shortages
Paknejad said
the Oil Ministry had coordinated with parliament’s Energy Commission to
establish a gas allocation and delivery schedule, clarifying supply
commitments, particularly to power plants, which play a central role in
electricity generation.
One of the
main measures ahead of winter has been completing and increasing liquid fuel
stocks at power plants, he said.
The ministry
has also coordinated higher fuel oil and diesel reserves for industrial
facilities to compensate for potential reductions in gas deliveries during
periods of peak cold-weather demand.
The measures
are intended to maintain fuel supplies to power plants and industries as
residential and commercial gas consumption increases, preventing disruptions to
services, Paknejad said.
Energy
Commission reviews winter preparations
The minister
said his attendance at the Energy Commission meeting was part of parliament’s
oversight responsibilities, during which he and other oil industry officials
addressed lawmakers’ technical questions and concerns about winter fuel
supplies.
He added that
the ministry would use lawmakers’ recommendations to improve operations, raise
productivity and strengthen the efficiency of the oil industry.