Iran loses 95 million cubic metres of natural gas output due to war

Iran's oil minister has reported that the country has lost around 95 million cubic meters of natural gas production due to damage inflicted by its conflict with the United States and Israel. This loss in output is expected to be recovered by the end of September as authorities collaborate with contractors to rebuild the affected facilities, according to the country's oil ministry news agency, Shana.

Although some gas processing facilities in Asaluyeh, situated in Bushehr province, sustained damage, this setback was largely compensated by utilizing capacity at other refineries, stated Mr Paknejad during a meeting with Iran's Energy Committee. The reconstruction of the four damaged refineries is underway simultaneously and at an accelerated rate, with debris removal already completed and contractors having commenced operations.

The reconstruction efforts are anticipated to be finished ahead of schedule, ensuring the full recovery of lost capacity in the gas production network.

However, the minister acknowledged that some output will remain unavailable during the winter months. He urged for increased public cooperation to optimize gas supply and consumption, thereby mitigating potential disruptions to services. According to the estimates provided by the state-owned National Iranian Gas Company, the timeline for restoring the lost output has been laid out.

Energy experts have called for more efficient use of energy resources in the aftermath of the war. Iranian Energy Committee Chairman Mousa Ahmadi emphasized the need for smarter utilization of energy and urged the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade to prioritize modernizing production lines to enhance energy efficiency. He also pointed out that many industrial facilities continue to rely on outdated, energy-intensive equipment, making urgent modernization and technological upgrades crucial.

Natural gas has gained popularity as an electricity generation option in many nations due to its availability and lower carbon dioxide emissions. The International Energy Agency states that gas power plants can be swiftly activated and deactivated, offering greater flexibility in managing demand surges or supply shortages from other sources.