Imbalances According to Statistics
Imbalances According to Statistics
The state of gas consumption in the country is by no means suitable
The intensity of energy consumption in Iran has long been considered a problem and issue by decision-making and expert circles. Various programs and policies have been designed and implemented in this regard, but it seems that despite the continued high energy consumption and even intensified programs and actions, they have not achieved the desired and effective results.
The daily gas production, on average and in terms of annual figures, is about 717 million cubic meters.
It is not possible to calculate and base the figure on a real daily basis because, conventionally, some complexes are under periodic maintenance or repair throughout the year, and their production levels vary according to different seasons and months. Of the mentioned figure, approximately 525 million cubic meters belong to South Pars.
Meanwhile, in the consumption sector, about 632 million cubic meters of gas is consumed in the first half of the year.
In the cold season, the consumption of the household sector alone increases to 537 million cubic meters. Additionally, gas consumption by power plants, industries, and petrochemical complexes should also be noted. A small amount of gas, equivalent to 58 million cubic meters per day, is allocated for export.
With these conditions, there is a deficit of about 37 million cubic meters per day during the 8 warm months of the year, which reaches up to 300 million cubic meters during the 4 cold months. This stark reality of imbalance stands tall before us all.
Nothing should lead statesmen to conclude that they want to hide a phenomenon like imbalance or downplay its importance. The country is currently facing this phenomenon, and it is better to say that for the past two or three years, it has entered a cycle of imbalance in gas production and consumption.
On average, in the second half of the year, we face a daily gas deficit of over 200 million cubic meters. But what does this deficit mean, and what areas does it affect? Under normal circumstances, all gas subscribers, including the household sector, commercial sectors, industrial sectors, petrochemical complexes, and power plants, are considered gas consumers. However, among these sectors, there is a kind of priority for abnormal conditions.
In such a way that if there is not enough gas for all these sectors, then some will be prioritized.
According to national protocols, the household and commercial sectors are the number one priority, and the rest of the consumers fall into subsequent priorities. Thus, whenever there is not enough gas in the network, the household sector’s consumption must be met first, and the remainder of the network’s gas is allocated to other sectors.
This measure has been considered for the welfare of our dear people, and in any case, the highest priority of the country is its citizens.
The average temperature of the country in the 3 cold months of the year 1403 is estimated to be around 53 degrees above zero, while the average temperature in the 3 months in question in the year 1402 was about 101 degrees, indicating a warmer winter in 1402 compared to 1403, with a difference of about 5 degrees.
The important point in mentioning these temperature statistics is that if fellow citizens reduce their home temperatures by one degree Celsius, approximately 25 million cubic meters of gas will be freed up across the country. This amount is enough to start many of our factories.
Certainly, at this very time, 19 million heaters and fireplaces are in use in Iranian homes. It should be known that no source, even as large as South Pars, is capable of confronting these ultra-low-efficiency heaters.
In this very household sector, one of the most important factors affecting energy loss, including gas, is the non-standard nature of heating systems and gas-burning appliances.
In the few lines above, several entities play a fundamental role, including municipalities, the Ministry of Housing, the Engineering Organization, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Culture, the national media, the banking sector, the Ministry of Education, and several other entities, all of which have clearly defined legal duties.
However, it seems that all these entities have forgotten their duties and are pointing fingers at the Ministry of Oil, continuously requesting more gas to be sent to the bottomless pit of the aforementioned heaters. Continuing this situation in the same way will only result in widening the gap of imbalance.