Iran Faces Another Winter Energy Crisis as Billions of Dollars in Natural Gas Go Up in Flames

Despite possessing the world’s second-largest natural gas reserves, Iran continues to waste vast amounts of associated gas through flaring, deepening energy shortages and economic losses. Iran Among the World’s Largest Gas Flaring CountriesAccording to the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Tracker, Iran ranked as the second-largest gas flaring country in the world in 2025, behind only Russia. Neighboring Producers Have Reduced Gas WasteRegional energy producers have invested heavily in capturing associated gas instead of burning it. That translates into:Around $1.04 million worth of natural gas burned every hour throughout 2024. An Energy Crisis That Could Be AvoidedCapturing associated gas would not only prevent billions of dollars in annual losses but also help alleviate many of Iran’s recurring energy shortages.