Iran’s energy crisis highlights the impact of years of underinvestment, mismanagement, and US sanctions on the country’s economy. Despite having vast reserves of oil and gas, Iranians are facing daily power cuts and fuel shortages, leading to frustration and inconvenience for the population.
The government’s decision to cut subsidies and raise fuel prices has sparked fears of a repeat of deadly protests in 2019. The country is also struggling with smuggling of fuel to neighboring countries, exacerbating the shortage at home.
Sanctions have limited Iran’s access to new technology and hindered its ability to increase output and modernize its energy infrastructure. The government is under pressure to find solutions to the crisis, including exploring negotiations with the west.
Overall, the energy crunch in Iran is a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability and the challenges it faces in managing its abundant natural resources in the face of economic and geopolitical pressures.
South Pars, el yacimiento de gas natural más grande del mundo, que Irán comparte con Qatar, suministra más del 70 por ciento de las necesidades de gas del país. Sin embargo, la producción del campo en el lado iraní del Golfo ha estado disminuyendo drásticamente.
“Hemos fallado en invertir correctamente en la industria de petróleo y gas upstream. Estamos sufriendo grandes pérdidas por no desarrollar el campo de gas de South Pars, mientras que Qatar está cosechando los beneficios”, dijo Behrouzifar.
Por ahora, la situación sigue siendo sombría. Este invierno, se espera que Irán enfrente un déficit diario de 260 millones de metros cúbicos de gas natural. “El desequilibrio seguirá creciendo a menos que resolvamos nuestros problemas con el mundo”, dijo Behrouzifar.
Visualización de datos por Alan Smith.