On Saturday, January 11, 2025, provincial energy consumption management working groups ordered the closure of approximately half of Iran’s provinces. Authorities cited “optimal energy consumption” as the official reason, marking the second nationwide shutdown since autumn due to the government’s inability to meet energy demands.
The affected provinces include Tehran, Alborz, Fars, Hamedan, North Khorasan, South Khorasan, Golestan, Semnan, East Azerbaijan, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Mazandaran, Qom, and Qazvin. Notably, these closures come despite forecasts predicting temperatures above freezing in many areas, including Tehran, and no significant temperature drops in others.
Rising Pattern of Disruptions
This latest shutdown follows a similar closure on December 25, 2024, prompted by severe air pollution. Tehran’s governor, Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, criticized such measures, stating that closures not only fail to address the root issues but also exacerbate energy consumption, increase fuel usage, and worsen air pollution by prompting higher travel activity.
The energy crisis has also disrupted the education sector. On December 19, 2024, the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology announced that all universities would transition to remote learning until the end of the first semester of the 2024-2025 academic year. The decision echoes measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Economic Toll of Shutdowns
Frequent shutdowns have had severe economic repercussions. The estimated daily cost of nationwide closures stands at five trillion tomans. In addition, Hamidreza Rastgarpour, head of the Tehran Chamber of Guilds, has warned that worsening cold weather and ongoing gas shortages may lead to further restrictions, including mandatory closures of large stores selling non-essential goods. Rastgarpour cautioned that violators who fail to close by 8:00 PM would face penalties, including shop closures.
A Growing Energy Crisis
The current crisis reflects a broader, systemic problem with Iran’s energy infrastructure. Abbas Aliabadi, the Minister of Energy, addressed the Energy Committee of Parliament on January 5, 2025, acknowledging the severity of the gas shortage. He stated that the Ministry of Oil cannot resolve the issue within two months. Aliabadi also highlighted the dire electricity shortage, noting that the country faced a deficit of over 20,000 megawatts during the summer of 2024, a figure expected to rise to 25,000 megawatts in 2025.
Aliabadi starkly contrasted the challenges posed by winter and summer energy demands, saying, “The cold of winter can be endured with warm clothing, but the conditions of summer are far more difficult to bear.”
Conclusion
Iran’s repeated shutdowns underscore the depth of its energy crisis, with wide-ranging implications for daily life, the economy, and public trust. As the country grapples with both gas and electricity shortages, the need for long-term solutions becomes ever more pressing. Without substantial reform and investment in energy infrastructure, the cycle of closures and economic losses is likely to continue, leaving citizens and businesses to bear the brunt of these systemic failures.