TEHRAN – Head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Dispatching Department Mohammadreza Joulaei said despite the surge in domestic consumption, gas supply to major industries and power plants has increased in the first two months of autumn (September 23-November 21) compared to the previous year’s same period.

According to Joulaei, NIGC supplied 243.3 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d) of natural gas to the country’s power plants in the first month of autumn (September 23-October 22), 11 percent more than the average daily supply in the same month of the previous Iranian calendar year.

As Shana reported, the average daily gas supply to power plants in the second month of autumn (October 23-November 21) stood at 193.3 mcm, 35 percent more than the figure for the same month in the previous year, the official said.

NIGC had supplied 220 mcm/d and 142.7 mcm/d of natural gas to power plants in the previous year’s same two months, respectively.

As for major industries, the average daily gas supply in the said two months increased by eight percent and 11 percent, respectively, according to Joulaei.

Stating that NIGC’s priority is to maintain a stable flow of gas for the domestic and commercial sectors, he said: “Although in the cold season, the largest share of gas production and processing is allocated to the domestic and commercial sectors, the National Iranian Gas Company has taken appropriate measures to ensure the sustained supply of gas to major industries and power plants in the fall.”

In early November, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Oji said that during the period from September 23 to November 6, over 236 mcm/d of natural gas has been supplied to power plants on average, which is 13 percent more than the figure for the previous year’s same period.

During the said period, every day, nearly 15 mcm more gas has been delivered to major industries including steel, cement, petrochemicals, and refineries in comparison to the previous year which shows an 11 percent increase in gas delivery to these industries, the minister said.

Iran is currently producing nearly 1,000 mcm/d of natural gas, which is mostly used inside the country for the domestic sector and also as fuel for the power plants and a small portion is also exported to neighboring countries like Iraq.

Earlier in September, NIGC Head Majid Chegeni said his company was getting prepared for sustainable gas supply during the cold season.

“Renovation of important and vital parts and equipment of the refineries of the South Pars gas complex is one of the important priorities in this regard that will be commenced in the near future,” Chegeni said.

Referring to the importance of sustained fuel supply to all sectors of the country during the cold season, he said: “Now the domestic, commercial, and power plants are the first priorities of the National Iranian Gas Company for supply during the cold season for which we have been planning carefully all year long.”

“The maximum production and processing of natural gas and by-products must always be maintained in the refineries of the complex and in line with this important principle, the renovation of facilities, equipment, and key parts of the first complex refineries will start in the near future,” he added.

EF/MA