March 02, 2020 18:48

Iran Motorists Buy Less Fuel: Viral Outbreak Drags Down Gasoline Use

Since Feb. 20 when the COVID-19 disease was first detected in Qom, Tehran and Rasht, many families self-quarantined at home either not to be infected or to see if they develop symptoms. This cut gasoline consumption to a great extent

With the viral outbreak spreading to more cities in Iran, the demand for gasoline has been dropping over the last two weeks, head of the Planning Department of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company said.
“Motorists used an average of 75 million liters per day of gasoline between Feb. 20 and March 2 -- down 12% compared to the corresponding period in January,” Shahram Rezaie was quoted as saying by ISNA.
Following the government’s decision to raise prices at the pumps in November 2019 (consumption was 110 million liters per day), fuel sales declined 16% in December and reached 95 million liters/d, he said.
The downward trend continued and consumption declined to 85 million liters/d in January 2020.

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Coronavirus in Iran