The possibility of gasoline rationing that ended in 2015 now seems very likley, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said.
“The government does not intend to increase prices at the pumps. However, large consumers who exceed reasonable limits should be required to pay more," Zanganeh said, IRNA reported.
Gasoline rationing plan was launched in 2007 to curb consumption. At that time motorists could buy 60 liters of subsidized fuel each month with a special card at 7,000 rials (70 cents) per liter (at the time one dollar fetched 10,000 rials).
According to the minister, not only should the rationing system help reduce consumption, but will also help combat fuel smuggling in regions bordering Afghanistan and Iraq. Moreover, the government will have no need to import 30 million liters of gasoline per day to meet growing demand.
Noting that no decision has yet been made on raising gasoline prices and fuel rationing, he said the Oil Ministry will be in charge of determining the new prices and the exact dates will be announced.
"If revived, the quota system will be implemented all over the country and not just in the border regions.”
Dismissing claims that his ministry is against rationing fuel, he said, "Sections of the media spread false news."
Asked about the amount of smuggled gasoline, Zanganeh reiterated that all given figures are guesstimates and there is no official data.
It is reported that between 20 and 40 million liters of gasoline is smuggled to neighboring countries everyday.
Energy experts, including Hassan Khosrojerdi, a member of Iran's Oil Product Exporters' Association, say with the increase in currency rates bigger volumes of fuel will leave the border illegally unless effective measures are taken such as rationing gasoline and increasing prices at the pumps.
Iranians burn close to 100 million liters of gasoline per day 1/3 of which is imported.
