TEHRAN – Iran has injected more than 165.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of sweet gas from the South Pars gas complex into the national grid since the start of the current Iranian year (late March 2025) to Feb. 2, the head of the South Pars Gas Complex (SPGC) said.

Gholam-Abbas Hosseini said all 13 refineries at the complex are operating at full readiness to maintain energy stability during peak winter demand.

“With accurate demand forecasting and extensive technical and operational measures, South Pars ensured stable gas production and transmission to the national grid during the winter consumption peak,” Hosseini told Shana.

He said round-the-clock efforts by specialists, timely and high-quality overhauls, detailed technical inspections and full use of domestically manufactured equipment helped align production with seasonal demand and maintain stable network pressure.

Hosseini said major overhaul work carried out since the beginning of the year included refurbishment of critical process equipment, repair and replacement of turbo-compressors, upgrades to control and instrumentation systems, optimization of gas sweetening units, improvements to internal transmission reliability and safety enhancement projects.

He said completing overhauls with minimal downtime increased unit availability and enabled maximum utilization of the 13 refineries, allowing a rapid response to higher winter demand.

According to Hosseini, South Pars refineries are currently injecting an average of more than 600 million cubic meters of sweet gas per day into the national grid. In the previous Iranian year, 196 bcm of gas was delivered to the grid from the complex.

He said South Pars supplies more than 75 percent of Iran’s total gas consumption, a role he described as critical in preventing energy imbalance and safeguarding national energy security during periods of extreme demand.

Hosseini added that beyond household supply, the complex plays a key role in providing stable gas feedstock to petrochemical and refining facilities, including the Persian Gulf Star refinery, supporting fuel and petrochemical production.

On January 5, the oil minister, while appreciating the tireless efforts of operational personnel in the South Pars region, said a new record has been set in the South Pars gas field, and the amount of gas extracted from this field has reached about 725 million cubic meters per day.

Mohsen Paknejad made the remarks on the sidelines of a visit to the gas platforms located in the South Pars field, on Monday, and while appreciating the efforts and activities of oil industry personnel working in this operational region, stated: “This region is the first link in the chain of gas production, processing, transmission, and distribution in the country. The employees of Pars Oil and Gas Company, through round-the-clock and difficult work in harsh conditions on the platforms, produce gas and deliver it to our compatriots so that homes remain warm, industry keeps turning, value is added in areas like petrochemicals, and other defined gas uses are supplied.”

Referring to the fact that over the past approximately 14 months, through the efforts of Pars Oil and Gas Company employees, 13 new wells have been drilled in the South Pars field, adding about 22 million cubic meters per day to the country's raw gas extraction, he said: “This amount of increase in extraction is considered a significant figure given the energy imbalance conditions we are facing.”

The minister continued: “Based on the plans made, it is predicted that by the end of this year (within the next two and a half months), about 4 more new wells will become operational as part of an in-field drilling plan. Considering these wells, the total increase in extraction from South Pars will reach about 30 million cubic meters per day.”

Pointing to the cold weather and severe drop in temperatures across the country and the increase in gas consumption in various sectors in recent days, Paknejad said: “Fortunately, under these very conditions, a new record has been set in the South Pars gas field, and the amount of gas extracted from this field has reached about 725 million cubic meters per day.”

Emphasizing that recording such a figure for gas extraction from the South Pars field is unprecedented compared to previous years, he added: “However, the gas imbalance amount increases during severe cold conditions. The reason for this imbalance is that with the drop in temperature and the increase in cold weather, gas consumption in the household, commercial, and specific industry sectors increases sharply. Naturally, under such conditions, other gas uses must be managed.”

Also as stated by the head of the South Pars Gas Complex, rising condensate production in recent years had directly boosted revenues from the sale of by-products, while also strengthening supplies to downstream industries and refineries producing higher-value fuels.

Hosseini described the South Pars Gas Complex as the country’s largest natural gas processing hub, noting that it processes sour gas from the shared South Pars field through multiple refineries. He said the complex has a decisive role in supplying feedstock to petrochemical plants in the region and to the Persian Gulf Star refinery, which is regarded as the world’s largest gas condensate refinery.

The chief executive said the complex has relied on domestic expertise, development projects and modern technologies to increase production capacity and improve the stability of feedstock supplies.

“These measures have not only raised output but have also contributed to stronger energy security, economic growth and higher national value creation,” he said.

The South Pars field, shared between Iran and Qatar, is the world’s largest gas reservoir and a vital source of energy for domestic use, industries, and exports.

EF/MA