The Tehran Times Economic Desk – 2010-07-07 00:02:47

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=222679

Iranian Leader Announces Policy for Conservation of Energy, Water

TEHRAN (July 7, 2010) — After a consultation with the Expediency Council, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution declared the mechanism for reforming consumption patterns, especially for the conservation of energy and water resources.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei forwarded the declaration to the heads of the three branches of government and the chairman of the Expediency Council on Tuesday.

Following is an excerpt of the policy declaration:

Efforts must be made to avoid the consumption of foreign luxury goods, with a focus on collective training based on national tastes and the campaign against extravagant and luxurious lifestyles.

The government, especially state companies and institutions, should serve as pioneers in promoting the efficient use of resources, especially energy consumption.

Efficient consumption of energy must be promoted by the enactment of a series of measures, including price reforms or other policies, in an effort to constantly reduce consumption, to the extent that the current level of energy consumption will be lowered to two-thirds of the current level at the end of the Fifth Development Plan in 2015 and to half of the current level at the end of the Sixth Development Plan in 2020.

A plan must be formulated to enforce “national obligatory standards” in producing and importing energy efficient equipment and machinery, reforming the public transportation system, with a focus on the subway system inside and outside cities, increasing the capacity of power plants, diversification of energy resources, with a focus on renewable energy resources, and improving the mechanism for the transfer of energy derivatives, especially through pipelines and railroads.

Water conservation efforts

In his declaration, the Leader also put great emphasis on the efficient use of water resources, especially in the agricultural sector, through the formulation of plans for reducing the waste of water, improving water purification methods, preventing water pollution, reforming the irrigation system, increasing the reuse of water, and establishing a balance between water resources and consumption, especially in the exploitation of underground water reservoirs.

Reforming the pattern of bread consumption

Ayatollah Khamenei also called on state bodies to make efforts to improve the process of “producing wheat and converting it into flour” and to improve the consumption of bread through improving the quality of bread, with a focus on tested methods in the process of producing wheat, flour, and bread, and also the “strategic storage of wheat.