In an interview with a reporter, Ali Asghar Rajabi discussed the role of gas operators in consumption management, stating: Alongside efforts to increase gas production in the country's oil and gas industry, consumption management can help ensure sustainable energy supply and reduce some of the pressure on the network.
Virtual Refinery and Consumption Savings
Rajabi added: Some new operators, relying on community capacities and up-to-date tools, are pursuing projects aimed at reducing gas consumption and freeing up part of the existing network capacity; a concept referred to as the "virtual refinery." In this model, instead of increasing production through the construction of new units, the savings achieved from consumption management can have a similar effect to creating new capacity in the gas network. In other words, the gas saved from adjusting consumption patterns effectively acts as new capacity available to the network.
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Necessary Collaborations for the Success of Gas Operators
The Energy and Carbon Manager of the National Iranian Gas Company continued: The new operator is developing a model in collaboration with companies such as Hamrah-e Aval, Digikala, and Acharé, aimed at creating significant savings in the country's gas network through public participation and implementing consumption management programs. He pointed out the impact of these projects, stating: The success of gas operators depends on various factors, including overcoming operational challenges, attracting investment, capacity building, collaboration among different agencies, and public engagement, and one cannot judge the final outcomes without considering these components.
Rajabi mentioned how private companies can enter the operator project, stating: Companies interested in operating in this area can obtain the necessary information through the operator section on the National Iranian Gas Company's website and complete their registration process. The applicant first specifies whether they intend to operate as a type one or type two operator and then uploads the required documents in the system and submits their request.
He emphasized the transparency of the entry process into this field, saying: Efforts have been made to provide all necessary information to companies, and currently, there have been no complaints that a company met the conditions to enter the operator but was not allowed to operate.
The Energy and Carbon Manager of the National Iranian Gas Company stated that the operator model in Iran is a new experience, noting: There are successful experiences of implementing this model in various countries, and for example, an operator company from Western countries retails about 35% of that country's gas, but implementing this model in Iran is new and naturally faces challenges.
Rajabi added: These challenges can be in the areas of management, guidelines, laws, supervisory units, and regulations; part of it relates to human resources, as a company that is supposed to manage and distribute a significant volume of gas among consumers needs skilled and capable human resources.
He said: Some of the challenges are cultural, and the operator must be able to connect with the organizational culture and the consumption culture of the people to manage demand effectively.
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