Iran Energy Crisis: Freezing Fuels Anger

The gas shortage in Iran is increasingly bringing public life to a standstill. Shops are therefore having to close – in a country that actually has a lot of gas. This could give new impetus to the protests against the regime.

Iran is the country with the second largest gas reserves in the world – after Russia. But for days people have been freezing in cold apartments, schools, universities, banks, offices and shops have been partially or completely closed because there is not enough gas for heating. This could give new impetus to the protests against the regime.

It’s winter, also in Torbat-e Jam in north-eastern Iran. At night, temperatures drop below zero degrees Celsius. No problem in a warm apartment, but the apartments of many residents are not warm because some of the gas was turned off.

A man complains to the responsible governor that his baby is freezing. An Internet video shows him with other men who are upset but peaceful. In front of the building of the aid organization Red Crescent, things get more to the point. A video shows employees bracing themselves against the large entrance gate. Outside, a crowd pushes against it, demanding blankets and heaters.

Working with emergency staff

Sara, a bank employee, lives in the capital Tehran and describes the situation there:

Her voice is alienated, her name changed. She fears that she could be punished for such statements.

At Sara’s bank branch, they try to get along somehow. But since Saturday the gas for the entire building has been turned off – the supplier has forbidden heating. “And because it was so cold and uncomfortable, they have now closed the building completely,” Sara continues. “It’s interesting that the building belongs to an energy holding company that works in the oil, gas and electricity sectors.”

Burn what is available

On top of all that comes extremely bad air. Because too little gas is available, power plants and industrial companies use the fuel masut, a sulphurous heavy oil. Others, in desperation, burn whatever is available for heating, regardless of the pollutants. Sara talks about the past few days:

There are statistics that say Tehran has had only two days of clean air in the past ten months.

Beware of new protests

The problems are obvious. And criticism is growing that the Iranian leadership is no match for them. Oil Minister Javad Owji replied: “Turn off the radiators in rooms you’re not using. That can make a big difference. Dress warmly. Use thick curtains.” He appealed to the population: “I ask our compatriots to support us in overcoming this cold snap.”

But Owji also knows that there is a lack of billions in investments in infrastructure, in gas and oil fields. The fear that energy costs will rise is growing – even in the regime. In 2019, higher fuel prices sparked violent protests. Up to 1500 people are said to have died at the time.

This gas crisis, observers say, has the potential to reignite protests that have died down. In the 100,000-inhabitant town of Torbat-e Jam and at least one other, according to the think tank “Institute for the Study of War”, anger about the mismanagement has already broken ground: A video on the Internet shows people who roam the streets in the dark. They yell, “Down with Khamenei.”