Nationwide expansion of single platform gas stations, especially in major cities, will not only help tackle air pollution but also reduce traffic congestion, managing director of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company said on Sunday.
Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to inaugurate the first 17 single platform stations in Isfahan, each of which is equipped with a single nozzle fuel dispensers, Abbas Kazemi added that effective measures have been taken to reduce the emission of gasoline vapor in these stations, the release of which causes ozone pollution in urban areas, IRNA reported.
Asked about safety standards, the NIORDC chief said there is nothing to worry about safety issues, as all precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of the attendants and the public.
"One of the major challenges in the metropolis is lack of sufficient gas stations, which leads to higher intercity travels, heavy traffic and waste of time and fuel," he said.
Kazemi noted that Isfahan played a pioneering role in launching the stations.
Nonetheless, other mega cities like Tehran have the potential for developing such cost-effective projects whose implementation does not require large capital.
The official believes that the newly-established stations will not inflict any harm on conventional stations, as gas stations will be operating under brand names in Iran for the first time.
The official noted that emissions of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur and volatile organic compounds, which have been shown to have a variety of negative effects on public health and the environment, will reduce dramatically in Isfahan in the near future due to the positive measures, such as the distribution of Euro-4 gasoline and diesel as well as reducing gasoline evaporation, thanks to cutting-edge technologies.
Pointing to the production of Euro-4 gasoline and diesel in the Isfahan refinery, Kazemi said the quality of gasoline distributed in Isfahan is comparable with the one used in London and Paris.
According to Seyyed Nasser Sajadi, managing director of National Iranian Oil Products' Distribution Company, the win-win contract to build stations was signed by Isfahan Municipality and the private sector, although it was planned for Tehran.
The official believes that the initiative can respond to the urban development challenges of expanding and intermediate cities in Iran in an eco-friendly way. Giving suitable services to enhance people's quality of life has been on the NIORDC's agenda since last year.
Daily gasoline consumption in Isfahan ranges between 6 and 9 million liters. There are 3,450 gas stations in Iran, of which 227 are located in Isfahan Province. Moreover, the number of CNG stations in the country stands at 2,300 while the province has 150.
According to Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, the government had been planning for more than a year to install single-platform stations and also reached an agreement with Tehran Municipality to establish 200 small stations in the capital, which have not yet materialized.
Stressing that establishing gas stations requires substantial investment to purchase the much-needed land, Zanganeh said, "Embarking on building small gas stations can help the Oil Ministry get in touch with only a few big gas station agencies instead of having to deal with thousands of gas station owners individually. Moreover, domestic gas station owners can establish a private joint-stock company to create their own brand."
