Iran has halted operations at several power plants due to severe fuel shortages, worsened by a surge in demand amid a cold snap. Despite holding some of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, Iran has been forced to implement electricity rationing, leading to the closure of schools and government offices in multiple regions.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed regret over the shortages and assured the public that the situation would improve by next year. The latest measure came from Lorestan province, which partially shut down a gas-powered plant due to high household gas consumption. This followed similar actions in the northern Golestan province.
The cold weather has also led to widespread disruptions, with sub-zero temperatures affecting over 20 provinces, including Tehran. Schools and government offices in Isfahan and West Azerbaijan were recently closed, and power outages have been reported nationwide. According to state news agency IRNA, these emergency measures have helped save 2 million cubic meters of gas and 100 megawatts of electricity in just one day.
