Electricity Supply to Industries Back to Normal: Tavanir

Electricity supply curbs imposed on factories over the last two weeks due to shortage of liquid fuel in thermal power stations have all been removed, a spokesperson for the Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company (Tavanir) said.
“Tavanir reduced power supply to industries by 3,000 megawatts during Jan. 15-31 and now that fuel storage tanks are being filled, restrictions have been lifted,” Mostafa Rajabi-Mashhadi was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
As long as power plants are provided with sufficient feedstock (gas or mazut), Tavanir will have no worries about power generation. But as soon as feedstock distribution faces a problem, the company’s output decreases and industries have to suffer the consequences, he added.
Rajabi-Mashhadi noted that although the country's installed capacity has increased in proportion to the annual economic growth, it is still not sufficient to meet the heavy domestic demand.
“As the number of electricity meters increases by half a million each year, lack of investment will not only hamper economic development but could also hinder normal life,” he said.
“The installed power capacity of 60 GW is not sufficient to meet current demand and lack of investment is causing distress, as the key sector is already facing shortages.”
Power consumption in Iran grows by 5-6% per year, but expansion plans have been undermined by financial restraints, management issues and the dominance of energy subsidies.
The Energy Ministry repaid $900 million in debt to private contractors in 2019, but still owes $3 billion. 
Referring to subscribers’ debt to the Tehran Regional Power Company, Rajabi said the amount is $17 million, a big portion of which are bills unpaid by state companies and organizations. He did not name names, nor say why the debts are still pending.