Minister: Gov’t to offer aid package to production units
Industry, Mine, and Trade Minister Mohammad Atabak stated that a support package would be provided to production units affected by gas and electricity shortages, emphasizing that the initiative is practical and not merely symbolic.
Speaking at a meeting of the government-private sector council in Yazd Province, Atabak said the package aims to mitigate losses incurred by production units due to energy deficits, ILNA reported.
Atabak noted that energy shortages are a major concern for the country’s economic actors, adding that heated discussions have taken place in government meetings with officials responsible for energy infrastructure.
He revealed that initial proposals by some officials called for a complete cutoff of gas and electricity to industries, but after extensive negotiations, the current measures were adopted.
“The support package is being implemented for the first time this year and is not symbolic. Its goal is to prevent further damage to industries,” Atabak said.
He added that the current administration prioritizes the industrial sector and has sought to support industries through facilities and aid packages to minimize the impact of energy shortages.
The minister also addressed the activation of domestic letters of credit (LCs), acknowledging that the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade faces many of the same challenges as economic actors in the stock market.
He said the ministry is holding numerous meetings with relevant officials to address these issues.
Atabak highlighted that the administration has finalized agreements with Eurasian countries, as well as Uzbekistan and Pakistan, in various fields.
He also stressed the need to collect mining royalties to ensure that regions with mining activities benefit from these resources.
Regarding environmental concerns, Atabak pointed to the undeniable pollution in Ardakan and called for measures to reduce it, including preventing the establishment of units that contribute to increased emissions in the region.
Special committee on agenda to address shortages
Meanwhile, Samad Hassanzadeh, head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA), announced the formation of a special government committee to address electricity shortages, with a focus on renewable energy capacity.
The committee includes the heads of the National Development Fund, the ministers of industry and economy, the heads of the Plan and Budget Organization and the Central Bank of Iran, and a representative from the ICCIMA.
Hassanzadeh said the committee has been tasked with presenting a report by next Sunday on obstacles to renewable energy projects and potential solutions.
He added that the government is prioritizing the resolution of energy imbalances, including allocating resources from the National Development Fund for investments in the electricity sector and securing land for projects.
“The president has emphasized that the country’s electricity issues must be resolved by the summer of 2025,” Hassanzadeh said.
The committee will examine challenges in establishing wind and renewable power plants, identify suitable regions for energy production, and explore the purchase of solar cells from China, among other issues.