Why Iran’s Blackouts Keep Happening Despite Vast Gas Reserves
- Power cuts are result of sanctions squeeze on investment
- Spending on power plants and transmission lines lags demand
A man prepares an order using a phone torch during a power outage in Tehran, on Nov. 12.
Photographer: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Iran has the world’s second-biggest reserves of natural gas, but that’s still not enough for the country to keep the lights on this winter.
The Persian Gulf nation is facing wide-reaching power outages — including scheduled blackouts across Tehran and other major cities in recent days — as US sanctions restrict investment.