In fuel shortage, Iran rations its electricity

According to a program published by Irna, electricity will be cut in different sectors of the capital for two hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

A similar plan was announced for several other provinces in the country, including Qom, Kerman, Guilan and Ardabil, according to Irna.

Poor quality fuel oil

The state-owned electricity distribution company said it took the decision due to “the limitation of fuel gas supply to power plants” and the government's decree “not to use fuel oil in some power plants.”

The duration of the rationing plan was not specified.

In recent years, many major cities in Iran have been hit by pollution, which experts say is caused by the use of poor quality fuel oil in power plants.

On Wednesday, the government ordered a halt to the use of the substance in three power plants in Arak and Isfahan in the center and Karaj in the west of Tehran to “ensure the health” of the nation.

Repeated power cuts, particularly in summer, have angered citizens in recent years.

Western sanctions

In July, authorities decreed the halving of working hours for several days in government institutions to save energy.

Years of Western sanctions have damaged the Iranian economy. Iran was the world's seventh-largest crude oil producer in 2022 and has the third-largest proven reserves behind Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.