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Government boosts fuel stocks to prepare power plants for winter demand
Eskandari said most of the country’s power plants primarily use natural gas, but when supply is limited, they turn to secondary fuels, IRNA reported. In Iran, winter gas supplies are constrained because priority is given to households and small businesses. As a result, power plants also rely on liquid fuels such as mazut and diesel, which can worsen air pollution, especially during temperature inversion periods. Eskandari said that under Iran’s fuel standards, high-quality mazut must contain less than 0.8 percent sulfur. He noted that this year the oil industry has supplied low-sulfur mazut to thermal power plants, and with continued deliveries, concerns over its pollutant effects will be resolved.
He noted, however, that at the national level, only 14 power plants can use mazut as a secondary fuel, while the rest operate on diesel.
Eskandari said more than 91% of power plant storage tanks are currently filled with liquid fuel and expressed hope that this level will be maintained to ensure a smooth winter.
He also said the company is testing different fuel methods, including using LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), and coordination with the oil ministry is underway to launch the project. “If successful, it will be used as a fuel for power plants,” he said. Also, to ensure stable electricity supply next summer, projects totaling more than 111,000 megawatts in repairs and optimization have been planned, according to Eskandari, with 40% already implemented since September and completion expected by May.