Comprehensive Planning Underway to Replace Gas with Electricity in Heating

TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking at the 9th International Conference and 6th National Award on Renewable Energy, President Pezeshkian honored the memory of national service martyrs and the anniversary of the liberation of Khorramshahr. He reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to expanding clean energy, calling it a clear and vital path for the country’s future.

Highlighting the government’s strategy to boost renewable energy sources—such as solar, wind, and nuclear—Pezeshkian stated that this transition has already begun and is being systematically pursued through daily and weekly cabinet meetings.

He emphasized the urgent need to substitute electricity for gas in heating systems, adding that detailed planning is already in progress. This includes the production and import of solar panels, equipping power plants, upgrading cooling and heating appliance manufacturing lines, and integrating energy-efficient designs into construction engineering.

“Energy plays a vital role in national development,” the president remarked. “The more we can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and incorporate clean energy into daily life, the smoother our path toward sustainable development will be.”

Pezeshkian noted that achieving success in this area requires broad cooperation from experts, investors, government officials, and members of Parliament. He reiterated the administration’s resolve to address energy imbalances by leveraging domestic capabilities and collective wisdom.

The president also called on the public to assist in managing energy use. “Just as citizens cooperated by saving gas during the winter, we hope they will also help this summer by cutting electricity use,” he said. Replacing high-consumption chandeliers with low-energy lighting was cited as an effective measure.

Referring to the significant damages caused by energy blackouts last year, Pezeshkian revealed that over 3,000 trillion rials (approximately $6 billion) in economic losses were incurred due to gas and electricity outages. “We cannot resolve this issue without the cooperation of experts and industry stakeholders,” he added.

Stressing the foundational role of stable electricity in production and development, he concluded, “We must first secure the energy needs of commerce and industry in order to plan for long-term development.”

In closing, Pezeshkian thanked the organizers of the event and invited universities, media outlets, cultural institutions, religious leaders, volunteer groups, and other organizations to play an active role in promoting energy conservation and helping to establish a sustainable development model based on renewable energy.

During the event, top investors, industrial producers, public organizations, municipalities, energy service companies, academics, young researchers, and leading regional electricity distribution firms were honored for their achievements in the renewable energy sector.