The Iranian Government’s Economic Council has approved measures to tackle the gas supply imbalance during the cold months.
Key actions include introducing new tariffs, promoting energy conservation, defining “comfort temperature” settings in government buildings, resuming gas imports from Turkmenistan, and allowing the use of fuel oil in power plants and industries with provincial prosecutor approval.
The Oil Ministry, alongside the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance and the Ministry of Industry, Mining, and Trade, has been tasked with designing new residential gas tariffs. These tariffs are aimed at deterring excessive and non-essential consumption and will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
The new tariff system will likely impose higher rates for households with high or unnecessary gas consumption to ensure a disincentive for overuse.
State broadcaster IRIB has also been instructed to collaborate with the Oil Ministry and the Ministry of Energy to raise public awareness about the importance of reducing natural gas and electricity consumption during the winter months.
In peak consumption scenarios, the resolution mandates reduced working hours for large commercial buildings, and educational and administrative centers may face closures or reduced operating hours as per the directives of a task force for winter fuel supply coordination.
The resumption of gas imports from Turkmenistan is a significant move to alleviate pressure on domestic supplies as demand surges during colder months.
Iranian citizens in the capital Tehran and other cities have been experiencing rolling blackouts over the past days as the government struggles to tackle the gas supply imbalance in cold months.