Aref: Winter Gas Shortfall Is 100 Million to 250 Million Cubic Metres; Government Aims Not to Cut Industrial Gas

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref told a meeting of the Fourteenth Government's young staff managers that, because of war damage, there is a gas shortfall of between 100 million and 250 million cubic metres for the cold season, and the government hopes to secure about 100 million cubic metres of it before the cold season begins, Donya-e-Eqtesad reported on Thursday, 16 Mehr 1405 (8 October).

He added that last year, even without this imbalance, industrial gas was cut and production suffered, and that this year's strategy is not to cut energy to the industrial sector. Aref asked the young managers to put forward proposals on the energy imbalance and said conservation is also needed. In the same remarks the First Vice President said the government has begun a crackdown on profiteering but has not yet found a solution to counter rising prices.