The Iranian government has ordered the closure of almost all offices and educational centers in the capital, Tehran, due to the shortage of gas supplies to protect against the cold wave that is ravaging the country.
To save energy, all ministries, institutional headquarters, schools, institutes and universities will remain closed this Saturday, according to the office of the deputy governor, Qadratullah Shafiqi, in a statement reported by the Iranian state broadcaster, IRIB.
Only banks and emergency services will remain open, the statement added.
According to the Iranian Oil Ministry, gas consumption has recently increased by around 30 percent compared to the same period last year. To overcome the «critical situation», the authorities have called on the population to exercise self-restraint.
According to the DPA agency, the measures have been strongly criticized by the population, outraged by the fact that a country like Iran, which has the second largest gas reserves in the world, has been unable to combat a cold snap.
Iran has huge oil and gas reserves, but the infrastructure of the facilities is outdated. Due to international sanctions, the government of President Ebrahim Raisi does not have enough money to expand and renovate the facilities.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
