3 Provinces at Risk of Gas Outages This Winter / Priorities for the Difficult Season Announced

The CEO of the National Iranian Gas Company announced the loss of 230 million cubic meters of gas production capacity due to recent incidents, and said network stability is being maintained despite widespread attacks.

The CEO of the Iran National Gas Company, today at the ceremony celebrating the safety and fire fighting day, appreciated the efforts of rescuers and operational staff and said: The experience of crisis management in war and turning weak points into opportunities for improvement provided the basis for the stability of the country's gas network against widespread attacks.

Referring to the events of June 23, 1404 and the 12-day war, Saeed Tawakli added: At that time, preventing secondary incidents was the main priority for the people, and crisis management meetings were held from the first seconds, and the measures foreseen by operational and provincial companies were quickly implemented.

Stating that the weaknesses identified during the war turned into opportunities for improvement, he said: These weaknesses were removed before the start of the 40-day war, and the preparation resulting from this experience played an important role in maintaining the stability of the network.

Referring to the widespread attacks on March 27 and the targeting of refineries and gas phases in less than three minutes, the CEO of Iran's National Gas Company added: "The enemy intended to affect the country's gas network, but the previous preparation and the efforts of operational staff did not allow the stability of the network to be disrupted."

Tavakoli listed the speed of forming the crisis management headquarters in less than three minutes and the establishment of hierarchical communication among the effective factors in managing the situation and said: This preparation was such that even foreign news agencies could not publish a report on the disruption in the gas network.

Referring to the capacities created in the operational body of the gas industry, he added: These capacities have become a kind of "institutionalized maturity" in crisis management.

Comparing the performance of the country's gas network with similar incidents in other countries, the CEO of Iran's National Gas Company said: Despite the damage to around eight thousand points of the gas distribution network, the stability of the network was maintained; While in some developed countries, pipeline accidents can lead to massive shutdowns.

Referring to the difficult conditions this year, Tavakli warned: following recent incidents, 230 million cubic meters of gas production capacity has been lost, and the restoration of 100 million cubic meters of this capacity was done in very difficult conditions.

He said: Golestan, Mazandaran and Khorasan provinces are in special priority due to the cut of communication axes and gas tension, and consumption management alone is not enough to overcome the crisis in these provinces.

The CEO of Iran National Gas Company emphasized the role of safety, health and environment (HSE) units in monitoring operations and added: safety units should not hinder the implementation of operations, but they should ensure the strict implementation of requirements in their supervisory position.

Tavakoli considered the reduction of gas consumption in Tehran, Alborz and Semnan provinces, especially Tehran, to have a direct effect on the stability of the network in the critical provinces of the north and east of the country.

He also emphasized the necessity of identifying unauthorized branches, dealing with gas theft and restricting non-priority consumers.

Referring to the concept of sustainable development, the CEO of Iran's National Gas Company said: Success must be repeatable and reliable.

In the end, Tavakli emphasized the importance of protecting the environment, especially in contracting activities such as replacing filters of gas pressure reduction stations (CGS), and called for a review of processes and reducing environmental risks so that the development of the gas industry can be achieved while protecting the environment.