Iraq, Afghanistan Return Iran Gasoline

Secretary of Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union (OPEX) Hamid Hosseini says Iraq and Afghanistan provide their required gasoline from Uzbekistan and Russia because it is of higher quality. As a result, the Taliban are not seeking gasoline imports from Iran.

Hosseini said that Iraq and Afghanistan have turned Iranian fuel for a while to buy gasoline from Uzbekistan and Russia due to its good quality and these two countries have improved the level of standard for their imports. He added that the demand for high quality gasoline and oil products has been the main reason for Iran’s exported gasoline to Afghanistan and these two countries do not buy low quality goods any longer.

He went on to say that the exported gasoline to Afghanistan has not been the product of major refineries but small refineries have produced it which does not pass the required quality. Hosseini added that the increase in quality of oil products of other countries have led to a shrink of Iran’s exporting market. This is while in the past even up to 90% of oi product export markets were in hands of Iran.

He added that with this change in taste and demand, the small refineries are unable to improve their quality of products because the Headquarters of the Iranian Anti-Smuggling Task Force have ordered the refineries that they must not produce any product similar in quality to what is produced in the major refineries.

He said small refineries produce low quality product and it is rejected by the domestic customers and therefore it is exported. He said that small refineries should be granted the license for higher quality production like Euro3 gasoline and diesel in order that they will be able to supply part of fuel needed by power plants in winter.

Hosseini noted that although Uzbekistan and Russia sell good quality gasoline, Afghan customers still demand Iran’s gasoline and they have accepted all consequences and costs. Occasionally, the exported product to Afghanistan is returned. It has nothing to do with Iranian exporters because they have sold his product and have taken the money. - Iran News