TEHRAN – The 27th meeting of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) Energy and Environment Committee was held in Tehran on Saturday, during which the attendees stressed the need for an integrated governance system in the country’s energy sector.

The meeting was attended by Head of the TCCIMA Energy Committee Reza Padidar, the members of the committee, and the spokesperson of the Parliament's Energy Committee Malek Shariati-Niyasar, the TCCIMA portal reported.

Speaking at the meeting, Shariati-Niyasar pointed to different scenarios for the establishment of integrated energy governance in the country and said: “One method is to integrate the state-owned companies in the energy sector and privatize the rest. Another way is to bring all state companies, including the National Iranian Oil Company, under the governance of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.”

The official also mentioned the integration of the country's energy consumption sector as another scenario and specified that based on this scenario, the total consumption in this sector should be governed under a new organization supervised by the presidency.

He then stated that the suggested scenarios for the establishment of an integrated energy governance system for the country are being pursued by the Parliament Energy Committee, and reminded that this committee is also ready to consult with the private sector.

He also informed about the approval of the law on removing obstacles to the development of the country's electricity industry by the Guardian Council and reminded that this law will be directed to the government in the coming days for implementation.

According to Shariati-Niyasar, the government has paid 25 trillion rials (about $70.6 million) of its dues to private renewable energy contractors.

The official finally said that the reform of financial relations in the country's oil and gas sector is also on the agenda of the parliament.

EF/MA