|
Article Title:Iran MPs after Rationed Gasoline Quota Increase
Date:1386/03/23
Body:
TEHRAN – Rapporteur of Energy Committee of Majlis (Iran’s parliament) said the committee believed that the quota of rationed gasoline should be increased to prevent possible problems.
Seyed Emad Hosseini told PIN said the committee members announced the view in their meeting with deputy minister of petroleum for oil refining and distribution affairs and the president’s special envoy in the Note 13 Headquarters.
“Based on a study on gasoline consumption of 4 million cars, the average monthly use of a car is 135 liters,” said the rapporteur, adding the committee, therefore, argued that the quota needed to soar from 100 liters to 135-150 liters.
Minister of Petroleum Seyed Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh announced that the plan for rationing gasoline would be finalized Tuesday.
Referring to Majlis ratification for import of 2.5 billion dollars worth of gasoline during the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2007), the minister added that since gasoline and diesel fuel were imported simultaneously, the process would be carried out gradually.
“Another part of gasoline imports will be done after rationing is enforced,” he added.
The minister said gasoline imports considered for the current year were based on presumption that rationing would be enforced since the beginning of the year or until May 22.
“Therefore, if rationing is not enforced, 2.5 billion dollars worth of imports will not suffice fuel needs of the country,” he said.
Vaziri-Hamaneh stated that the Ministry of Petroleum had projected fuel consumption rise to stand at 10 percent, but introduction of smart cards has reduced the actual figure to 4.5 percent.
Asked about 20 percent rise in consumption of gasoline on May 21, the minister said it was due to people’s concern about beginning of rationing on May 22 and the problem had largely been solved.
The minister said that the smart cards project had been implemented through cooperation of Ministry of Petroleum, Islamic Republic of Iran Police, Post Office, and other concerned state bodies.
It is not for the Petroleum Ministry to set gasoline price and it will be determined by the parliament.
|