Several power plants in Iran have been shut down due to a fuel shortage exacerbated by a cold wave straining energy supply, local media reported on Monday.
Iran, a major energy producer, holds the world's second-largest natural gas reserves, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and ranked as the seventh-largest crude oil producer in 2022.
However, the Iranian electricity grid suffers from a lack of infrastructure investment, largely due to Western sanctions.
In recent weeks, the country has been forced to ration electricity due to insufficient gas and fuel supplies to power its plants.
In northern Iran, several power plants in the Golestan province have been shut down due to a gas shortage, according to the Fars news agency.
In this region, temperatures have dropped to -5°C, leading to increased household gas consumption for heating.
Similarly, in Lorestan province (central Iran), located about 200 kilometers from the capital Tehran, "some gas-powered power plants have also been shut down," according to state television.
Half of Iran’s 31 provinces are affected to varying degrees by measures linked to energy supply challenges.
In Tehran, where power outages have become more frequent, schools and government offices were closed on Monday for the second consecutive day. On Sunday, schools and public services remained closed across half of Iran’s provinces to conserve energy amid shortages.
Authorities have extended these closures to Tuesday in several regions, including Kermanshah (west), Ardabil, Mazandaran (north), and Isfahan (center).
According to state television, 28 provincial capitals recorded temperatures below 0°C overnight from Sunday to Monday.
At the same time, gas consumption has risen by 18% compared to the same period last year, according to the Iranian gas company.
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian apologized on Monday for the ongoing energy shortages and repeated power outages, which have frustrated the population.
With AFP
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