President warns energy shortages at critical level, urges unity
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the current energy shortages have reached a critical level even as he expressed optimism about their resolution through unity.
Pezeshkian, speaking on Sunday during the 47th graduation ceremony of Imam Hassan Mojtaba (AS) University of Police Sciences, emphasized that with the cooperation and support of all sectors of the government, the issue of shortages can be resolved.
The president also on Saturday ordered the establishment of an Energy Optimization and Strategic Management Organization during a meeting of a working group on addressing gas sector energy imbalances. The meeting was attended by the heads of the three branches of government.
At the beginning of the meeting, Hamid Pourmohammadi, head of the Plan and Budget Organization (PBO), outlined the overall process of the national plan to address gas sector energy shortages. Details of the plan were also discussed and reviewed in the presence of the top three officials.
Pezeshkian urged the working group to accurately gather data on household gas consumption to prevent unfair treatment of lower-income groups. He emphasized that the plan must prioritize fairness and justice in its implementation.
The president also stressed the need to penalize high-consumption users while introducing incentives for low-consumption households.
He placed a premium on the importance of public education on energy conservation through media and social platforms, noting that each phase of the national plan requires a media strategy, which the working group should consider.