Identifying the identities of fuel consumers through the identification of free station cards is one of the new strategies to address refueling issues in the country. In recent years, the widespread use of free station cards and the uncertainty about the identities of individuals using these cards for refueling have raised concerns about potential misuse and fuel smuggling.
The Necessity of Transaction Identification
Identifying transactions can enable more precise monitoring of consumption and assist in identifying individuals who use these cards. This action is being taken at a time when some proposals have been made to transfer fuel quotas to bank cards. However, this proposal alone cannot be a suitable solution to the fuel smuggling problem.
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Comparison of Bank Cards and Fuel Cards
Fuel cards can be transferred to border areas, and bank cards also have this capability. Therefore, merely transferring the quota to a bank card will not necessarily prevent smuggling. Additionally, this change may create other issues and concerns, including in the area of information security and user data protection.
There should be a distinction made between transferring fuel quotas to bank cards and smartening free station cards. In the smartening method, without the need for fundamental changes in the quota allocation mechanism, the possibility of identifying and monitoring refueling transactions is provided. This approach can enhance oversight of the use of free cards while maintaining the existing structure and reducing the potential for misuse.
According to available statistics, about 50 to 55 percent of the country's refueling is done with free station cards; a share that, according to some recent reports, has increased. The non-use of personal fuel cards by some people and their reliance on free station cards further emphasizes the need for transparency in this sector. When the identity of the user of the free card is not clear, the ability to accurately examine consumption patterns and identify suspicious cases will also be limited.
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