Reza Sepahvand, spokesperson for the Energy Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, in an interview with a parliamentary reporter about the estimated daily smuggling of two million liters of gasoline in Tehran and its consumption stated: The Anti-Smuggling Organization and the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company have statistics and estimates regarding the amount of gasoline consumption and smuggling.
Fluctuations in Gasoline Smuggling
Sepahvand stated that the amount of smuggling is not constant throughout the day, adding: It is not possible to announce an exact figure like five or six million liters as a definitive daily statistic. The consumption of vehicles changes in different seasons, and smuggling is also affected by these fluctuations. He also mentioned some fixed uses of gasoline, such as its use in paint and spray workshops where gasoline is used as a solvent.
He added: The low price of gasoline and its availability have increased the use of this fuel for various purposes. Currently, some individuals use gasoline for washing engines, and in some pools and villas, gasoline is also used for heating.
Import Costs and Fuel Management
Sepahvand also referred to the cost of gasoline imports, stating: In the year 1403 (2024), about six to seven billion dollars were spent on gasoline imports, which accounts for a significant amount of the country's currency. He also pointed to the limitations imposed in previous fuel management methods and said: One of the solutions was that each vehicle could refuel a maximum of two times within a 24-hour period, but this method did not completely solve the problem.
According to Sepahvand, in some provinces, including Kerman, measures were implemented to manage fuel consumption that had a positive impact. He referred to the fuel management experience in Kerman province and said: In this province, the fuel quota that was previously provided through the station card was transferred to vehicle cards. This action had a positive impact and, according to the reports provided, led to a daily reduction of about 800 thousand to one million liters of gasoline consumption in Kerman province.
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