Close to 130 billion cubic meters of natural gas was consumed during the eight-month period to November 21.
According to Saeed Momeni, the deputy manager at the National Iranian Gas Company, natural gas delivery to the residential sector has risen compared to last year as more towns and villages are being connected to the national grid, ILNA reported.
Giving a breakdown, he said power plants received 55 bcm of gas in the 8 months. Moreover, 26.3 bcm of the fuel was delivered to heavy industries including steel, cement and petrochemical plants.
"To help curb air pollution, power stations and industries have been instructed to use gas instead of eco-unfriendly mazut and diesel in the winter season," he said, adding that power plants usually consume less gas and more liquefied fuel in wintertime due to the high seasonal demand of households. However, this winter “they will be provided with as much gas as they need.”
Asked about other sectors, he added that commercial and household sectors burnt more than 47.5 bcm in the period.
The official urged households to consume judiciously to help the NIGC improve delivery by using intelligent consumption optimization systems and improving central heating.
"NIGC is committed to delivering 700 million cubic meters of gas per day to all sectors, especially households, this winter," Momeni said.
NIGC undertook major repairs to refineries and gas transmission pipelines, and has plans for the 10th pipeline of the Iran Gas Trunkline (IGAT 10) to supply gas from the south to central and northern regions to facilitate domestic gas supply.
Iran has the capacity to produce upwards of 800 million cubic meters of gas per day and most of the output is consumed domestically.
Iran supplies around 40 mcm/d of gas to Turkey and Iraq and is among the world’s top five consumers of the clean fossil fuel.
The giant South Pars Gas Field in the Persian Gulf is slated to increase production capacity by 84 million cubic meters per day, which has currently stabilized at a rate of 550mcm/d, by March.
