Flaring in Iran: From Symbolic Flames to Missed Opportunities for Energy Security

According to Energy Press, in many of Iran’s oil fields, flares burn day and night. These flares are a symbol of production, but at the same time a sign of waste. Gases that come out of the ground with oil are burned in the absence of adequate infrastructure; a process called “flaring” in energy literature.
According to the World Bank’s 2025 report, the world has flared more than 150 billion cubic meters of gas this year. The highest amount in nearly two decades. Only a few countries are responsible for the main share of this waste, and Iran is among them.
But behind these statistics, there is a strategic question: Are these flares a technical requirement or the result of a management vacuum? And more importantly, can they be made part of the solution to the country’s energy security?
Flaring; from a safety imperative to a strategic issue
In the past, flaring gas with oil was mainly justified by the logic of safety and lack of economic consumption, but today the situation has changed. The country faces energy imbalances, peak-season power shortages, and environmental pressures. In such an environment, every cubic meter of gas flared is not just a number; it is a missed opportunity.
Flare gases are largely composed of methane and other light hydrocarbons; the same materials that feed power plants, petrochemicals, and the municipal gas grid. Simply put, we flare in some places and reinvest in the same energy in others.
What happens if the flames go out?
Even recovering a portion of flare gases can have a significant impact on the country’s energy balance. These gases can be converted into electricity, injected into the national grid, or fed into downstream industries.
With the country facing a power deficit and power plants dependent on liquid fuel in winter, converting flare gases into electricity could alleviate some of this pressure. At the same time, reducing gas flaring will also mean reducing pollutant emissions; an issue that is not just an environmental concern today, but is also tied to international credibility and the future of energy exports.
The Reality of Iran: Constraints and Capacities
Iran, despite its sanctions constraints, has considerable technical capabilities. In the gas fields of the south of the country, there is an extensive refining and petrochemical infrastructure that allows for the absorption and use of recycled gases.