Executive Summary

Last Updated: November 17, 2022   |  
Summary   |   Notes

Overview

Figure 1. Largest proved reserve holders of oil, 2021
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Figure 2. Iran's total primary energy consumption, share by fuel, 2021
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Petroleum and other liquids

Figure 3. Iranian petroleum and other liquids production and consumption, 2011-2021
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Oil trade

Figure 4. Iran's monthly crude oil and condensate exports
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Figure 5. Iran's crude oil and condensate exports by destination, 2021
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Natural gas

Figure 6. Largest proved reserve holders of natural gas, 2021
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Figure 7. Iran's dry natural gas production and concumption
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Natural gas trade

Figure 8. Iran's natural gas pipeline imports and exports, 2012-2021
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Electricity

Figure 9. Iran's net electricity generation by fuel, 2021
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Notes

Endnotes

    1U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, September 2022 and International Energy Statistics.

    2Oil & Gas Journal, Worldwide look at reserves and production (December 2021).

    3Reuters, "As nuclear talks resume, Iran’s oil exports increase", February 10, 2022.

    4Reuters, "Iran, world powers to discuss U.S. return to nuclear deal, compliance", April 1, 2021.

    5U.S. Energy Information Administration, OPEC Net Oil Export Revenues, August 2022.

    6BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022.

    7U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, September 2022 and International Energy Statistics.

    8Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), page 55; Iran Oil and Gas Monthly, "Key Issue: Iran Awards Development of Eight Brownfield Projects to Local Companies", January 2021.

    9Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), page 55-56.

    10Rystad Energy, "What’s at stake for Iran’s oil sector as nuclear talks hit roadblock?", September 20, 2022; Rystad Energy, "What’s in store for Iran’s upstream sector if sanctions are lifted?", May 17, 2022.

    11Middle East Economic Survey, "Iran Hopes To Develop Iraq Border Fields, Finances & Technology Stand In The Way," October 1, 2021.

    12Rystad Energy, "What’s at stake for Iran’s oil sector as nuclear talks hit roadblock?", September 20, 2022; Middle East Economic Survey, "Iran’s Energy Sector: Lots Of Bluster But Limited Progress," August 5, 2022; FACTS Global Energy, Iran Alert, "NIOC Signs $40 Billion MoU with Gazprom, but Few Projects Likely to Go Ahead", August 5, 2022; ClipperData LLC, Geopolitic Oil, March 31, 2021, pages 2-3.

    13U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, September 2022; Fitch Solutions, Iran Oil & Gas Report, Q4 2022, pages 26-28; FACTS Global Energy, Iran Oil and Gas Monthly Report, February 28, 2022, pages 3-5.

    14Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), pages 84-94; Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2020, (December 2020), pages 69-79; Middle East Economic Survey, "Iran Hikes Capacity at Persian Gulf Star Condensate Splitters," July 24, 2020, page 9; Abadan Oil Refining Company (accessed September 2022).

    15FACTS Global Energy, Middle East Petroleum Databook, Spring 2022, page 67; Islamic Republic News Agency, "1st phase of Qeshm ultra-heavy crude oil refinery becomes operational", January 14, 2022; Middle East Economic Survey, "Iran Eyes Local Firms For Downstream Boost," September 9, 2022.

    16Middle East Economic Survey, "Iran Targets 3.5 mn b/d Refining Capacity", January 28, 2022 and "Iran Eyes Local Firms For Downstream Boost,”"September 9, 2022; SHANA, "Iran Oil Refining Capacity to Hit 3.5mn Barrels", November 6, 2021.

    17Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), page 79.

    18Middle East Economic Survey, "Iran Starts Up New Terminal On The Gulf Of Oman", July 23, 2021.

    19Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), page 80.

    20ClipperData LLC (data pulled August 31, 2022).

    21Reuters, "China’s Iranian oil imports ease on poor margins, lure of Russian oil", May 9, 2022; ClipperData Geopolitical Report, Volume 4, Issue 13, March 31, 2021, pages 2-3; Middle East Institute, "Iranian sanctions evasion and the Gulf’s complex oil trade," May 11, 2021.

    22Reuters, "Syria fuel crisis eases as Iran delivers new oil supplies," October 23, 2020; Facts Global Energy, Iran Oil and Gas Monthly, January 2022, page 3.

    23Reuters, "China’s Iranian oil imports ease on poor margins, lure of Russian oil", May 9, 2022; Argus Media, "Opec+ added 500,000 b/d in July, remained below target", August 10, 2022; Iran International, "More Evidence Emerges Of Russia Taking Iran’s Oil Market Share", July 22, 2022.

    24Facts Global Energy, Iran Oil and Gas Monthly Report, August 2022, page 6; Reuters, "Venezuela begins imports of Iranian heavy oil for refining -PDVSA documents", May 9, 2022; Reuters, "Iran boosts crude supply to Venezuela for refining, freeing up exportable oil", July 19, 2022.

    25Facts Global Energy, Iran Oil and Gas Monthly Report, August 2022, page 7; Argus Media group, "Venezuela adapts to US sanctions with rising oil flow", November 3, 2021; Reuters, "Tankers to discharge Iranian crude, condensate at Venezuela’s main port", September 26, 2022.

    26Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021 (December 2021), page 96.

    27Reuters, "Sanctions choke Iran’s crude sales, but oil product exports booming," September 2, 2019.

    28Oil & Gas Journal, Worldwide look at reserves and production, (December 2021).

    29BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022.

    30U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics.

    31Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), pages 66-67, 74 and Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2020 (December 2020), page 93.

    32Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), page 71.

    33Middle East Economic Survey, "Iran’s Energy Sector: Lots of Bluster But Limited Progress", August 5, 2022; "Tehran & Baku Agree to Double Gas Swap", June 10, 2022; and "Iran Details $80bn Gas Development Plan", January 14, 2022.

    34Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Monthly Report, November 2021, pages 2-4.

    35Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), page 113.

    36Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR), Global Gas Flaring Data (accessed August 2022).

    37Tehran Times, "Major gas refinery goes operational in southwestern Iran," January 22, 2021.

    38Mehr News Agency, "Iran gas flaring zero by March 2023: Zanganeh," January 22, 2021; Middle East Economic Survey, "Gas Plant Inauguration Boosts Iran’s Petchems Outlook", January 29, 2021, page 12.

    39Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2020, (December 2020), pages 105-106; Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), pages 101, 103-104; Tehran Times, "'Over $1.5b worth of natural gas wasted in Iran annually'", August 16, 2022.

    40BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022.

    41U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics.

    42Fitch Solutions, Iran Oil & Gas Report, Q4 2022, pages 29–30; Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), pages 107–108; Iran International, "Iran Spends Tens Of Billions Of Dollars A Year On Energy Subsidies", February 4, 2022, and "Senior Official Says Iran Paying $100 Billion In Energy Subsidies", May 9, 2022.

    43Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), pages 20-21, 31-34, and 110 and 118.

    44U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics.

    45Facts Global Energy, Iran Oil and Gas Monthly, August 2022, page 18.

    46Facts Global Energy, Iran Oil and Gas Monthly, January 2021, page 14, and Facts Global Energy, Iran Oil and Gas Monthly, August 2022, page 18.

    47Middle East Economic Survey, "Iran Unveils 10 Year Upstream Investment Plan", December 3, 2021, and "Tehran & Baku Agree to Double Gas Swap", June 10, 2022; Facts Global Energy, Iran Alert, "Iran is keen to expand gas trade with neighbors", June 27, 2022.

    48Facts Global Energy, Iran’s Oil and Gas Annual Report 2021, (December 2021), page 111.

    49U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics.

    50U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics using data from BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022.

    51Fitch Solutions, Iran Power Report, Q4 2022; pages 7-8; FACTS Global Energy, Iran Oil and Gas Monthly, July 2021, pages 1-7.

    52Iran International, "Energy Minister Says Iran Faces 15,000 Megawatt Power Deficit", April 1, 2022 and "Iranian Industry Losing Money Due To Gas And Electricity Shortages", September 5, 2022; BBC News, "Electricity blackouts spark protests in Iranian cities", July 6, 2021; BBC News, "Iran bans cryptocurrency mining for four months after blackouts", May 26, 2021; Reuters, "After protests, Iran’s President apologises over power blackouts", July 6, 2021.

    53Middle East Economic Survey, "Iran Dreams Up 14GW Renewables Target", May 20, 2022.

    54Reuters, "ANALYSIS–As Iran faces 'water bankruptcy', drought exposes past problems, future threats", July 28, 2021; Iran International, "Iran Facing Water, Power Shortages This Summer", June 3, 2022; Fitch Solutions, Iran Power Report, Q4 2022; page 4.

    55Fitch Solutions, Iran Power Report, Q4 2022; pages 10–11; Tehran Times, "Iran to add 10GW to renewable energy capacity", January 2, 2022; Middle East Economic Survey, "Iran Dreams Up 14GW Renewables Target", May 20, 2022.

    56Tehran Times, "'There is possibility to set up 1m household solar power plants in country'", August 19, 2022; Fitch Solutions, Iran Power Report, Q4 2022; page 11.