Energy in Iran

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Iran holds 10% of the world's proven oil reserves and 15% of its gas. It is OPEC's second largest exporter and the world's fourth oil producer.
Iran holds 10% of the world's proven oil reserves and 15% of its gas. It is OPEC's second largest exporter and the world's fourth oil producer.

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[edit] Petroleum

Main articles: Ministry of Petroleum of Iran and National Iranian Oil Company
See also: Asalouyeh and 2007 Gas Rationing Plan in Iran

Iran has the second largest oil field in the world, and the third largest exporter of it.

Iran possesses abundant fuels from which to generate energy. Since 1913 Iran has been a major oil exporting country. Oil industry output averaged 4 million barrels per day in 2005, compared with the peak output of 6 million barrels per day (950,000 m³/d) reached in 1974. Following the 1979 revolution, however, the government reduced daily oil production in accordance with an oil conservation policy. Further production declines occurred as result of damage to oil facilities during the war with Iraq. In the early 2000s, industry infrastructure was increasingly inefficient because of technological lags. Few exploratory wells were drilled in 2005. Iranian oil was nationalized in 1953 and thus is owned and operated by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

Iran holds 10% of the world's proven oil reserves. Oil also is found in northern Iran and in the offshore waters of the Persian Gulf. Nevertheless, in 2005 Iran spent US$4 billion dollars on fuel imports, mainly because of contraband and inefficient domestic use that result from subsidies.

[edit] Natural gas

Main articles: National Iranian Oil Company, National Iranian Gas Company, and South Pars Gas Field

Iran has the world's second largest reserves of natural gas (15% of the world's total); these are exploited primarily for domestic use. In 2005 a large share of Iran’s natural gas reserves were believed to remain untapped.

[edit] Electricity

See also: List of reservoirs and dams in Iran
The Karun-3 dam & hydroelectric power plant in Iran was commissioned in 2005. Iran has emerged as one of the world's largest dam builders in recent years, while its electric power wastage hit $1.1 billion in 2006.
The Karun-3 dam & hydroelectric power plant in Iran was commissioned in 2005. Iran has emerged as one of the world's largest dam builders in recent years, while its electric power wastage hit $1.1 billion in 2006. [1]

By 2004 the addition of new hydroelectric stations and the streamlining of conventional coal- and oil-fired stations increased installed capacity to 33,000 megawatts (MW). Of that amount, about 75 percent was based on natural gas, 18 percent on oil, and 7 percent on hydroelectric power. In 2004 Iran opened its first wind-powered and geothermal plants, and the first solar thermal plant was to come online in 2009. Demographic trends and intensified industrialization have caused electric power demand to grow by 8 percent per year. The government’s goal of 53,000 megawatts of installed capacity by 2010 is to be reached by bringing on line new gas-fired plants financed by independent power producers, including those with foreign investment backing, and by adding hydroelectric and nuclear power generating capacity. Iran plans to generate 6,000 MW of electricity through nuclear technology by 2010 to meet its increasing demand for energy. Iran is not only self-sufficient in power plant construction but has also concluded a number of contracts on implementing projects in neighboring states.[2]

[edit] Nuclear energy

Main articles: Nuclear program of Iran and Atomic Energy Organization of Iran

Even so, its first 1,000 MW nuclear power plant at Bushehr, built with assistance from Russia, was not online by 2007. In 2005 Iran’s electricity imports were greater than its exports by about 500 million kilowatt-hours; exchanges were made with all neighboring countries except Iraq.[3] A research by the Ministry of Energy indicated that between 15,000-20,000 megawatts of electricity should be generated in Iran in the next 20 years.[4]

[edit] Statistics

As a further drive toward diversification of energy sources, Iran has also established wind farms in several areas, this one near Manjeel.
As a further drive toward diversification of energy sources, Iran has also established wind farms in several areas, this one near Manjeel.

Electricity:

  • production: 155.7 TWh (2004)
  • consumption: 145.1 TWh (2004)
  • exports: 1.837 TWh (2004)
  • imports: 2.17 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:[5]

  • fossil fuel: 93% (75% comes from gas generation, 18% from oil) (2006)
  • hydro: 7% (2006)
  • other: 0% (2006)
  • nuclear: 0% (2006)

Oil:[6]

  • production: 3.979 million barrel/day (2005 est.)
  • consumption: 1.51 million barrel/day (2004 est.) (expected to increase by 10% from 2006)
  • exports: 2.5 million barrel/day (2004 est.)
  • imports: NA
  • proved reserves: 132.5 billion barrel (2006 est.)

note: 1/3 of Iran's gasoline needs is imported because of insufficient domestic refining capacity, over-consumption and contraband. [7]

Natural gas:

  • production: 83.9 billion m³ (2004 est.)
  • consumption: 85.54 billion m³ (2004 est.)
  • exports: 3.56 billion m³ (2004 est.)
  • imports: 5.2 billion m³ (2004 est.)
  • proved reserves: 26.62 trillion m³ (2005)

[edit] See also

Energy Portal
Iran Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Iran Daily - Domestic Economy - 02/01/07
  2. ^ Iran-Daily:Hydroelectric Power Generation Will Increase
  3. ^ Iran
  4. ^ Iran Daily - National - 04/11/07
  5. ^ Iran
  6. ^ CIA - The World Factbook - Iran
  7. ^ Iran Energy Data, Statistics and Analysis - Oil, Gas, Electricity, Coal

[edit] External links