Iran Gasoline Import to Halve in Summer

Gasoline import will decrease by 50% in the summer (June 22 to Sept. 22), the head of National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company said.
"It is projected that the country will need to import 9 million liters of gasoline per day in the first quarter (March 21-June 21), which will halve in the second quarter," Mohammad Reza Mousavikhah was also quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency. 
According to the official, the amount of gasoline stored in the country indicates a rise of 1.5% compared with last year's corresponding period while power plants' diesel reserves have doubled in comparison to previous years.
"Were it not for the development of Persian Gulf Star Refinery in the southern province of Hormozgan, NIOPDC would have to import 28 million liters of the strategic fuel daily," the official said, adding that cutting down on gasoline import is a top priority of Oil Ministry.
The refinery is being developed in three phases with a combined processing capacity of 360,000 barrels per day of condensate, a type of ultra light crude extracted from the giant South Pars Gas Field in the Persian Gulf.
"Once fully operational, the refinery will produce 36 million liters of high-octane gasoline as part of efforts to wean Iran off the import of the fuel product," he said.