Previous airstrikes from the United States and Israel during the more than five-week war have hit energy infrastructure such as gas production facilities or oil depots, as well as transport routes.

But taking any of Iran’s roughly 90 power plants offline would represent a major escalation with immediate consequences for civilians and the local economy.

Iran’s abundant gas reserves are used to generate around 79% of the country’s electricity, according to the Paris-based International Energy Agency.

Its power stations are clustered around the biggest urban and industrial areas in the north, particularly around the capital Tehran, as well as the Gulf coast, which is close to the main gas reserves.

The biggest plant is Damavand, which supplies the capital, followed by Shahid Salimi Neka in northern Mazandaran province, and the Shahid Rajaee plant in northern Qazvin province, according to Iranian power infrastructure group MAPNA.

Brenda Shaffer, an energy expert at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, told AFP, “It is important to point out that Iran was undergoing a very severe energy crisis prior to the start of the current war.

“Iran has chronic shortages in electricity, natural gas and refined oil products.”

– AFP