We burn the gas and complain! / Where does the promise of gas collection from burners go?!
Iran's 5% increase in flaring in 2025 and the value of gas burned in 2024, which is estimated at 9 billion dollars, as well as the non-publication of statistics on gas collection projects, have caused many questions.
According to the energy correspondent of Ambassador Arjan, in a situation where gas imbalance has become one of the chronic challenges of Iran's economy and the restriction of energy supply has affected industries and power plants, the latest data of the World Bank indicates the continued increase in torch burning in the country.
According to the June 2026 report of this institution, the global volume of flared gas reached 167 billion cubic meters in 2025, and Iran was one of the countries whose increase in flares played a role in the global growth of this index.
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The importance of this statistic increases when it is placed next to the statements of the oil industry officials about the increase in the collection of associated gases. While the National Iranian Oil Company announces the growth of the collected gas volume and plans to increase it, the figures published in domestic sources about the current amount of gas collection are not consistent with each other at first glance. This discrepancy highlights the necessity of publishing integrated and comparable statistics to evaluate the performance of flaring containment projects.
Iran; One of the factors that increase the burning of torches in the world
In June 2026, the World Bank announced that the volume of gas flared in the world reached 167 billion cubic meters with an increase of about 6% in 2025. The highest rate since 2019. The value of this volume of gas is estimated at 54 billion dollars based on regional pricing criteria.
According to the same report, the volume of Iran's torch burning in 2025 increased by about 5%, equivalent to 1.4 billion cubic meters. Iran's flaring intensity, i.e. the ratio of gas burned to oil production, also increased by about 3%. The increase of this index in a situation where the country is facing a gas supply limitation, doubles the importance of developing the infrastructure for collecting, processing and transporting associated gases.
The share of Russia, Iran and Iraq in burning the torch of the world
The World Bank considers the insufficient investment in the recovery of associated gases and the delay in the implementation of some programs to be factors influencing the continuation of this trend. According to the report of this organization, 9 countries with the most burning torches account for more than 80% of the global volume of this index; While their share of world oil production is less than half.
What is the economic value of burned gas?
According to an analysis published citing World Bank data, Iran will burn about 22.8 billion cubic meters of associated gas in the course of oil production in 2024; The figure which is the highest annual amount recorded for Iran has been introduced. The value of this gas is estimated at around 9 billion dollars using the benchmark price of the European market; The equivalent of approximately one million dollars per hour. However, this figure does not mean definitive income lost, but shows the theoretical value of gas burned based on a price criterion. To calculate the realizable income, the cost of collection, transmission, processing and sale, gas quality, technical limitations and the actual share of recoverable gas should also be considered.
Also, in the 2026 report, the World Bank announced the improvement of the satellite estimation method of Mashal Souzi, so comparing the figure of 22.8 billion cubic meters in 2024 with the new series estimates of this institution, regardless of the difference in methodology, can be misleading.
From an environmental point of view, the dimensions of the problem are also significant. The World Bank's estimate shows that in 2025, the burning of torches in the world will generate about 429 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, part of which is related to unburnt methane in the torches.
Gas collection statistics and the difference in figures!
Along with flaring data, the statistics of collected gases are essential to measure the progress of flaring control programs. In a report, the manager of oil and gas production supervision of the National Iranian Oil Company, Reza Essi, announced that the amount of associated gas collection has increased from about 5 million cubic meters per day at the beginning of the 14th government to more than 9 million cubic meters per day. The announced goal was to bring this figure to about 35 million cubic meters per day by the end of the government's activity. Also, the volume of associated gas collection in the southern oil-rich areas, the Central Regions Oil Company and the Arundan Oil and Gas Company has increased from about 7 million cubic meters per day before the start of the fourteenth government to more than 16 million cubic meters per day at the time of the publication of the report.
Collection of accompanying gases at the beginning of the activity of the 14th government
More than 16 million cubic meters per day
The stated purpose of gathering gas
About 35 million cubic meters per day
Estimated daily production of associated gases in the country
The difference between the statistics of more than 9 million and more than 16 million cubic meters per day does not necessarily mean that one of the reports is incorrect. The difference in the scope of coverage, the date of calculation, the approved projects or the definition of collected gas can contribute to this difference. However, without an official explanation, it is not possible to accurately assess the progress.
If the statistical basis of the two reports is the same, the increase from 7 to more than 16 million cubic meters per day means adding more than 9 million cubic meters per day to the volume of gas introduced into the use cycle; A figure equivalent to more than 3.2 billion cubic meters per year, if the operation continues for 365 days. The validity of this calculation depends on the uniformity of the statistical scope and the activity period of the facility.
Objectives and real capacity of projects
The goal of collecting about 35 million cubic meters of gas per day, if realized and continued, will be equivalent to about 12.8 billion cubic meters per year. This figure should be checked in addition to the daily estimate of 40 to 50 million cubic meters of burner gas. If the statistical range is the same, such a target can cover a large part of the current torch burning; However, its realization is dependent on the completion of projects and sustainable use of infrastructure.
On the other hand, the grand goal of the 7th Development Plan has been announced to increase the collection of associated gases by about 16 billion cubic meters per year; equivalent to a daily average of about 43.8 million cubic meters. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the difference between this goal and the goal of 35 million cubic meters per day in terms of project scope and statistical definition. The report of the US Energy Information Administration in 2024 has also recorded significant nominal capacities for important plans to collect and process Iranian associated gases.
These projects, respectively, with Azadegan, Yaran, Yadavaran, Jafir, Darkhoin and Band Karkheh oil fields and areas; Dehlran, Cheshmekhosh, Danan and Azar; Handijan, Behrgansar, Soroush, Nowruz, Abu Dhar, Durood and Forozan squares; And Maron, Gachsaran, Aghajari and Ragsafid regions are related. However, the mentioned figures are nominal capacity and should not be considered equivalent to the current collection amount. To evaluate the actual performance of each project, the nominal capacity, the amount of feed received, the amount of salable product, and the amount of gas that has been documented to be prevented from burning should be published separately.
The World Bank has estimated the cost needed to eliminate continuous torch burning in the world at around 70-100 billion dollars and emphasizes that the obstacles to reducing torch burning are not limited to technology only; Weak infrastructure, lack of capital, market restrictions and lack of prioritization and effective implementation of regulations also play a role.
The experience of Kazakhstan, which according to the World Bank report has reduced its burning volume by 87% since 2012, shows that the combination of regulations, investment and infrastructure development can lead to measurable results. Of course, the conditions of this country are not the same as Iran, but its experience emphasizes the necessity of measuring real results instead of relying on promises. In Iran, the publication of regular information can determine to what extent project delays are caused by lack of capital, technology limitations, non-completion of transmission lines, product market problems, or weak executive management.
In order to go beyond the general statistics and measure the actual results of torch burning control programs, it is necessary to answer five questions:
1. What was the volume of produced gas, collected gas, processed gas and burned gas in the years 1403 and 1404 and the last statistical period of 1405?
2. What is the reason for the difference between the statistics of more than 9 million cubic meters per day in the report of June 21 and more than 16 million cubic meters per day in the report of July 3, 2026, and has the definition or statistical scope changed?
3. What is the operating status of NGL 3200, NGL 3100, Khark and East Karun in 2026 and how much feed has each unit received and produced?
4. How much of the daily goal of 35 million cubic meters and the annual goal of 16 billion cubic meters have been achieved, and what is the difference between these two goals in terms of statistical scope?
5. Which entity is responsible for publishing integrated project performance reports, and is information on actual collection volume, investment cost, product sales revenue, and flaring reduction published regularly?
measure of success; Actual reduction in torch burning
World Bank data shows that Iran's torch burning will continue to increase in 2025; While the officials of the oil industry are announcing the growth of the collection of associated gases and planning to increase it further. The two trends are not necessarily contradictory, as it may be that associated gas production has increased or that new projects have not yet been able to offset flaring growth. However, without publishing integrated statistics, it is not possible to determine the contribution of each factor.
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The measure of success of flare control programs should not be simply the number of projects introduced, the nominal capacity of facilities or the amount of investment announced. The main indicator is a measurable reduction in the volume of gas flared and an increase in gas that is actually collected, processed and returned to the economic cycle.
In order to respond to this demand, the oil industry must publish the statistics of associated gas production, the volume of flares, the amount of collection and the actual performance of the projects with the same definitions and regularly. Otherwise, it will be difficult to independently evaluate the success of the programs, even with multiple plans and large investment figures.