The Energy Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly announced the implementation of the identification scheme for emergency fuel cards at fuel stations. This scheme has been launched to optimize fuel consumption management and combat its smuggling. Reza Sepahvand, the spokesperson for the Energy Commission, elaborated on the details of this scheme on November 4 (Aban 13).
Details of the Identification Scheme for Fuel Cards
The identification scheme for fuel cards means that each fuel withdrawal will be linked to a specific card and a particular station. The emergency card is used when the main vehicle card is not available. However, if these cards remain unidentifiable, tracking withdrawals will become more difficult, and controlling fuel consumption will face challenges.
The price of gasoline in Iran is significantly lower than regional prices. This price discrepancy has made fuel smuggling profitable for smugglers. Every liter of fuel that exits through illegal channels transfers the subsidy intended for domestic consumption to foreign markets.
Consequences of the Scheme and the Need for Evaluation
The consequences of this trend for the average consumer are indirect. With uncontrolled consumption increasing, pressure on gasoline production and imports rises. This pressure could impact fuel pricing policies, although reports have not specifically mentioned clear links between the two.
In the published text, the spokesperson for the Energy Commission referred to two operational axes of the scheme. However, details regarding the geographical scope, timing, and the number of cards involved have not been specified in the report. Additionally, no statistics on the reduction of smuggling or consumption after the implementation of the scheme have been provided.
To evaluate the impact of this scheme, two main indicators should be examined: the daily gasoline consumption trend in the coming months and the official announcement of its implementation results. Until these data are released, it can only be said that the primary goal of this scheme is to better control the fuel pathway from the station to the consumer.
