VPNs responsible for 1 GW of Iran’s electricity use: Expert
An energy expert says the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass internet blocks has increased Iran’s electricity consumption by 1 gigawatt (GW).
Javad Emam told the semi-official IRNA news agency on Wednesday that the consumption is equal to power generation at a large power plant.
Industry estimates show that 1 GW of electricity is enough to power a city of 1 million people. That comes as Iran has been facing a major shortage of electricity in recent weeks because of low fuel supplies at power plants that have been caused by rising demand for heating in the country.
Emam’s comments came a day after Iran’s government said it had secured a decision to lift bans on access to two major internet platforms for which people were forced to use VPNs.
“According to the estimates (and) given the size of mobile users and the VPNs existing in the country, the consumption of electricity increases by as much as generation in a 1-GW power plant,” he said.
The expert added that the shortage of fuel supplies at power plants has caused Iran to face as much as 20 GW of shortage in its electricity supplies.
That comes as Iran has an electricity generation capacity of nearly 100 GW of which nearly 70 GW can become operational if power plants have access to enough feedstock.
Emam said that another major challenge facing Iran’s electricity sector is crypto-mining which he said is responsible for a major part of the country's power consumption.
He said mining crypto-currencies is reportedly consuming nearly 10 GW of power supplies in Iran which is equal to the current power consumption in the capital Tehran.
Report blames gasoil exports for shortage at Iranian power plants
Iran to open 6 GW of new power capacity by next summer
Iran rushing to supply more fuel to power plants amid cold spell
VIDEO | Israel wipes out northern Gaza
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Israel kills 5 Palestinian journalists in front of Al-Awda Hospital in Gaza
VIDEO | Gaza ceasefire obstacles
VIDEO | Pakistani Christians mark Christmas in solidarity with Palestine
VIDEO | Plight of Gaza cancer patients
VIDEO | Yemen’s hypersonic missiles continue targeting Israel
VIDEO | Intl. event marks Yalda Night, Christmas, Birth Anniv. of Lady Fatima (PBUH)
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
