Iran�s state gas company the NIGC says daily natural gas consumption by households and businesses in the country reached a new yearly peak of 475 million cubic meters (mcm) on November 29.

NIGC�s head of Dispatching Control Center Gholamreza Kushki said on Wednesday that household and business�gas usage in Iran would reach above 500 mcm per day on Saturday as a new cold spell is expected to hit the country.

Kushki said consumption in the sector is expected to rise to a record high of around 550 mcm per day next week.

Iran is the fourth largest consumer of natural gas in the world after the US, Russia and China. Statements by government authorities show that gas usage in the country of 85 million people is almost equivalent to that of the entire continental Europe in current figures.

Total gas consumption in Iran, including usage at power plants and industries, normally reaches more than 850 mcm per day during peak days in winters.

Iran�s nominal gas production is around 1 billion cubic meters per day, according to NIGC figures.

 

 

By PRESS TV�