Speaking at the 84th meeting of the Government’s
Communications Coordination Council, hosted by the Oil Ministry on Saturday,
November 1, Bovard said the oil industry had performed positively despite
existing challenges and constraints, citing his more than 35 years of
experience across different sectors of the industry.
He said the ministry had recorded significant progress in
production, development and sales. Oil and petroleum product output, including
gasoline and diesel, had increased, while the country had also set a new gas
production record.
Associated Gas Recovery Gains Momentum
Bovard said the government had made considerable progress in
resolving the status of associated gas and flare-gas recovery projects. The
president personally reviews their progress almost every week, he added.
All associated gas and flare-gas projects have now been
assigned an implementation framework, Bovard said, noting that the volume of
recovered associated gas has increased significantly during the current
administration and that the gas has been returned to the production cycle.
Petrochemical Reconstruction Accelerated
Although most petrochemical complexes are privately owned
and do not fall under the Oil Ministry, the ministry is following up on efforts
to accelerate the reconstruction of facilities damaged during the war, Bovard
said.
He added that repair work was under way in the country's two
main petrochemical hubs, Asaluyeh and Mahshahr, alongside efforts to expand
production capacity.
$30 Billion in Oil Industry Contracts Signed
Bovard said development activities in the oil industry had
continued despite existing restrictions, with contracts worth approximately $30
billion signed across various sectors during the current administration.
Implementation of the related projects has already begun, he added.
The time required to finalize upstream oil contracts has
also been reduced significantly. While some contracts previously took three to
four years to sign, coordination with the Plan and Budget Organization has
brought the process down to around six months, he said.
The ministry is also continuing a programme aimed at
increasing crude oil production by 250,000 barrels per day, Bovard said.
Oil Export Revenue Exceeds Estimates
Despite external pressure and operational constraints, the
ministry's overall oil sales performance has been satisfactory, he said.
Foreign-currency revenue from oil sales since the beginning of the current
Iranian year has been approximately 8% to 10% above initial estimates.
Bovard said the ministry was using all available capacities
and export routes to maintain shipments and secure the revenue required for the
national budget.
He also noted that Iran had shifted from being a diesel
importer to a net exporter during the current administration, expressing hope
that exports of diesel and other petroleum products could be further increased.
40% of Lost Gas Capacity Restored
Bovard said reconstruction of oil industry facilities
damaged during the war had begun in the early days of the conflict, with
funding secured through banking resources and private-sector capacity.
The country lost approximately 230 million cubic metres per
day of gas production capacity during the war, he said. So far, 40% of that
capacity has been restored through the efforts of industry personnel and in
line with the reconstruction programme.
However, Iran's pre-existing gas imbalance remains
unresolved, he said, adding that a reduction of around 10% in energy
consumption could help the country manage supply conditions during the winter.
Bovard said savings of approximately 10% in gasoline, diesel
and natural gas consumption would help address upcoming challenges, stressing
the importance of public participation in energy management.
Fuel Supply Maintained During Wartime
Despite attacks on the fuel supply chain and damage to
refining facilities, gasoline supplies across the country were not interrupted,
Bovard said. The efforts of oil industry employees and cooperation among
relevant organizations ensured that fuel distribution was managed and petroleum
products remained available in all regions.
He emphasized that continued public cooperation,
particularly in reducing natural gas consumption, would be essential to
achieving the country's energy-management targets.