The implementation of the fuel card coding scheme began on Thursday afternoon, November 7, in the counties of Nehbandan, Sarbisheh, Darmian, and Zirkuh in South Khorasan. This scheme is designed to organize the distribution of petroleum products and reduce congestion at fuel stations. Given the extensive shared border of South Khorasan with Afghanistan and the price differences of petroleum products with neighboring countries, fuel smuggling in this region has become a serious challenge.
Challenges of the Coding Scheme
According to the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company in South Khorasan, local vehicles in the province as well as non-local vehicles that have a history of refueling in the province will be able to refuel at the stations in these four counties. However, in the early days of the implementation of the scheme, issues were observed for some local vehicles in receiving fuel. These disruptions have been attributed to the uploading of new information, and the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company has reported efforts to resolve the issues.
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Human and Social Consequences of Fuel Smuggling
An incident that occurred on November 2 on the Hosseinabad-Nehbandan road due to the collision of two Peugeot 405 vehicles carrying smuggled fuel resulted in one death and two injuries. This event once again highlighted the human and social consequences of fuel smuggling. The significant distance of villages from urban centers and the daily need for people to travel for access to services have made sustainable access to fuel a serious necessity.
Considering the situation of travelers and passing drivers who may not have a history of refueling in the province, clear regulations regarding emergency refueling stations are essential. Designating specific stations for emergency refueling could cover part of the needs of this group. At the same time, the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company must transparently inform about how to supply fuel to local and non-local vehicles.
The implementation of the coding scheme is aimed at managing fuel consumption and reducing dependence on emergency cards. Although this scheme has led to a 9% reduction in gasoline consumption in South Khorasan, its success requires attention to other indicators related to smuggling and off-network supply. Monitoring by governors over the implementation process and resolving potential issues is also considered essential in this process.
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