Newly Registered Vehicles to Refuel at New Rate: Iranian Official

The CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company said that under a new plan, fuel quotas for government, free-trade zone, foreign and newly registered vehicles will be supplied at a rate of IRR 50,000 (4.2 cents) per liter. He noted that while the quota for these vehicles remains 160 liters, the entire amount will now be provided at the IRR 50,000 rate.

According to the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, Keramat Veys-Karami said the Cabinet’s approval of a three-tier gasoline pricing system does not change the amount or rates of the first and second quotas for regular vehicles. In other words, the 60-liter quota at the first rate (IRR 15,000 (1.26 cent)) and the 100-liter quota at the second rate (IRR 30,000 (2.52 cents)) remain unchanged.

He said the purpose of the Cabinet’s decision is to encourage the public to use their personal smart fuel cards. “Currently, at least 40% of daily gasoline distribution is carried out using station emergency cards,” he said, adding that daily gasoline consumption averages 133 million liters. “This means 53 million liters per day are purchased with station cards at the IRR 30,000 rate.”

The CEO emphasized that the goal is to increase the use of personal smart fuel cards and minimize the use of emergency station cards. He said individuals who do not have smart fuel cards will be issued new ones. Beginning in the second half of Azar (late December), gasoline purchased using station cards will be priced at IRR 50,000. The exact implementation date will be announced later.

Veys-Karami added that some vehicles are not eligible for the first and second quotas. Government vehicles fall into this category, he said. “The government has announced that the IRR 30,000 quota will not apply to government vehicles, and they must refuel at the IRR 50,000 rate.” Vehicles in free-trade and special economic zones, foreign vehicles and newly registered vehicles will also refuel at the emergency card rate of IRR 50,000.

In response to a question about how these vehicles will refuel, he said they will be issued fuel cards and will receive the 160-liter quota normally allotted under the first and second rates, but the fuel will be priced at IRR 50,000. Newly registered vehicles, he clarified, refers to brand-new cars that have just come off the production line. - Shana