As Iran approaches the winter of 1405, it is on the brink of a serious crisis regarding the supply of gas and electricity. The recent war has caused significant damage to various energy infrastructure sectors in the country, heightening concerns about Iran's ability to get through the cold months of the year. Meanwhile, chronic energy imbalance, lack of investment, and aging infrastructure have been issues that have plagued the country's energy industry for years.
Warnings About Gas Shortages and Air Pollution
On October 20, the spokesperson for the Parliament's Article 90 Commission announced that due to the damage inflicted on four refineries of the South Pars Gas Complex, we are facing a difficult winter ahead. Farshid Shekarkhodaei, a member of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, stated: "We will definitely face a gas shortage in winter, which will lead to the burning of a large volume of mazut in power plants, causing severe air pollution."
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Efforts to Rebuild Infrastructure
In response to these concerns, officials say that repairs to the damaged facilities are being carried out swiftly, and a significant portion of the lost capacity has already returned to operation. However, military attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure began in Esfand 1404, causing significant damage to the South Pars gas refineries, especially on March 17. Estimates indicate that about one-third of the country's gas production capacity has been lost due to these attacks.
Saeed Tavakoli, CEO of the National Iranian Gas Company, announced that nearly 8,000 points in the gas production, transmission, and distribution network have been damaged. Additionally, damages to gas facilities have been estimated at around four billion dollars so far. Meanwhile, Iran's annual gas imbalance has reached approximately 100 billion cubic meters since the war.
Alongside these issues, Iran's electricity network is also facing serious problems. The Minister of Energy, Abbas Aliabadi, announced that following the attacks, 4,200 megawatts of the country's electricity production capacity has been taken offline, and damages to the electricity industry have exceeded 60 trillion tomans. This situation has impacted forecasts regarding energy supply in the cold season and increased concerns.
Ultimately, as winter approaches, many questions arise regarding the extent of the return of damaged capacities to operation and the process of rebuilding infrastructure. This crisis could have serious consequences for the daily lives of people and the environment.
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