Title: Minister Addresses Energy and Water Challenges, Calls for National Conservation Effort
In a comprehensive statement, the Minister of Energy, Abbas Aliabadi, outlined the nation’s current energy strategy and addressed the pressing issue of water scarcity, framing national conservation as the paramount solution.
A Necessary, Unwanted Measure
Addressing the nation’s energy portfolio, Minister Aliabadi clarified the government’s position on fuel oil (mazut). He emphasized that it is a valuable commodity that officials are reluctant to burn for power generation. “Fuel oil is an expensive commodity, and we do not wish to burn it. We prefer to convert it into other goods,” the Minister stated. He explained that its use is strictly a contingency plan, reserved for times of peak electricity demand or natural gas shortages to ensure the public’s power supply remains uninterrupted. “We are not interested in burning fuel oil, but if there is a gas shortage, we are forced to do so. We don’t want to, but we have to.”
Confronting a Multi-Year Drought
Shifting focus to the critical water situation, Minister Aliabadi described the country’s water network as one of the most advanced in the world, with all reservoirs connected to the integrated system. However, he identified the core of the problem: a severe and prolonged drought. “The main issue is that water must come from the sky to the reservoirs. We are in a drought—not a one-year drought, but one that has lasted for five consecutive years. This means that whatever was in the reservoirs has been depleted.”
A Unified National Resolve is the Only Way Forward
In the face of these dual challenges, the Minister was unequivocal in his message: conservation is the only viable path forward. “We must manage consumption and prevent water loss. Without everyone’s help, we cannot succeed. Overcoming this crisis requires a national will,” he asserted.
To enforce this, the Minister announced concrete measures against excessive water consumption. He stated that action would be taken against households that consume over forty times the standard water usage pattern, particularly those using private swimming pools. “If someone does not heed the warnings, we will take action, and the electricity of those with high water consumption will be cut off,” Aliabadi concluded, underscoring the government’s commitment to managing the nation’s vital resources.