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

Iran has experienced a substantial 95 million cubic meters reduction in natural gas production, as a result of infrastructure damage inflicted during the conflict with the United States and Israel, according to Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad. Paknejad projected that this production loss would be recuperated by the conclusion of September, as authorities collaborated with contractors to repair the affected facilities, according to the Shana news service.

Certain gas processing facilities in Asaluyeh, located in Bushehr province, sustained damage; however, this setback was largely mitigated by leveraging capacity at alternative refineries, Paknejad informed during a session with the Iranian Parliament's Energy Committee. The reconstruction of the four impacted refineries is anticipated to be carried out concurrently and at an accelerated pace, the minister stated.

The initial phase, debris removal, has already been accomplished, and a plan of action has been established with contractors commencing operations, Paknejad explained.

Though reconstruction is expected to be finalized ahead of schedule, allowing for the full restoration of lost capacity to the gas production network, he cautioned that some output will remain unattainable throughout the winter months. Paknejad emphasized the importance of public cooperation, urging consumers to manage their gas usage effectively to alleviate potential disruptions. The state-owned National Iranian Gas Company provided the estimates of the output losses and projected timeline for their return.

Mousa Ahmadi, chairman of the energy committee, advocated for "smarter" utilization of energy resources. He stressed the priority of enhancing energy efficiency in industrial units and called upon the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Trade to expedite plans for modernizing production lines to improve energy efficiency. Ahmadi highlighted that a significant portion of industrial facilities still relied on outdated, energy-intensive equipment, necessitating faster modernization and technological upgrades, as reported by Shana on Monday.

The war has inflicted considerable damage upon Iran, with US and Israeli forces repeatedly targeting crucial infrastructure, including logistics, power grids, and, critically, energy facilities.