Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 4 / Trend F.Milad/
Iran has saved some 100 trillion rials (around $8.1 billion) in water consumption and some 5 trillion rials (around $400 million) in power consumption since implementing the Subsidy Reform Plan in December 2010, Energy Minister Majid Namjou said.
The administration plans to reduce per capita consumption of water to 30 liters from 150 liters, the minister added, Mehr news agency reported.
Iran's subsidy reforms have saved the government $15 billion since December 2010, state television quotes Deputy Economy Minister Mohammad-Reza Farzin as saying.
The most significant savings accounted for the energy industry, Farzin told state television on Dec. 28, 2011. Iran began phasing out three-decade-old subsidies system last year under a five-year plan and replacing it with cash payments. About 74 million Iranians receive monthly cash payments, he said.
"The Iranian government plans to eliminate cash payments for the wealthiest 10 percent of the nation," Farzin said.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in December 2011 his government will contact "wealthy" Iranians about halting monthly cash payments, Fars news agency reported.