A Government Official: Diesel Fuel Reserves for Power Plants Decreased by 65%

Hojjatollah Mousavi, spokesperson for the electricity industry in Khuzestan province, announced that the diesel fuel reserves for the country's power plants have decreased by 65%, which poses a challenge to stable electricity supply. Concurrently, the spokesperson for the gas company in Tehran province reported a new record in gas consumption in the province. According to the government news agency Tasnim, Mousavi pointed out that the increase in fuel consumption is due to cold weather, stating: "To supply electricity to power plants, we need diesel and gas fuel, but the amount of gas supplied has decreased by 4.5 billion liters compared to last year, and this shortfall has been compensated by liquid fuel." The electricity industry spokesperson emphasized that over a thousand specialized personnel in the country's electricity sector are working to maintain the stability of the electricity network despite this imbalance. Mousavi added: "The electricity industry is prepared to supply electricity, but its sustainable provision depends on resolving the fuel supply challenges for power plants." In another report from the government news agency Ilna, Ali-Asghar Navaei, spokesperson for the gas company in Tehran province, announced that "in the past 24 hours, gas consumption in Tehran province has reached 112 million cubic meters, which is a new record for gas consumption." This government official did not mention the frequent power outages affecting the use of alternative home energy sources. Mohammad Sadegh Motamedi, the governor of Tehran, also referred to the energy crisis and the necessity of managing consumption, stating: "With the cooperation of guilds and unions, we have so far achieved a 35-megawatt reduction in electricity consumption." Motamedi also pointed to the identification of high-consumption gardens, known as luxury gardens, adding: "Nationwide, over 90,000 power outages have occurred in these gardens to relieve pressure on the network." The governor of Tehran emphasized that the priority in managing consumption is to prevent power outages in the residential sector. In this context, the Tehran Chamber of Guilds also announced: "Given the intensifying cold weather and gas shortage, large stores selling non-essential goods must close, and only stores that provide essential goods for the people should remain open." This guild organization threatened, "If these stores, including those selling household appliances, resume operations, we will seal them." According to Mohsen Zabeh, deputy of Tavanir Company, planned blackouts in the country began on Saturday, December 24. The reasons for this crisis include increased household gas consumption due to cold weather, reduced fuel deliveries to power plants, and a lack of liquid fuel for electricity generation. Abbas Karimi, secretary of the power plant guild association, warned that if sufficient fuel is not provided, electricity supply limitations will continue until the end of winter. This situation has led to power outages in various cities, disrupting people's daily lives, closing schools, and reducing access to essential services. Energy problems, in addition to increased consumption, stem from mismanagement and reduced energy reserves. Reports indicate that insufficient planning in the energy sector, sanctions, drought, budget deficits, and even cryptocurrency mining have exacerbated the gas and electricity shortages. There is no electricity, there is no clean air, the country is half-closed, continuing the consequences of the gas and electricity crisis; "Greenhouse vegetables and fruits" will become more expensive. Widespread closures and the energy crisis in Iran; from severe cold to fuel shortages. Warnings from poultry farms about the death of flocks due to sudden power outages.