Iran to increase gasoline exports

IRAN: Iran's Deputy Oil Minister Alireza Zeighami says the Islamic Republic is expected to export 30 million liters of gasoline per day by 2015, despite the illegal US-led sanctions against the country. Zeighami, who is also the managing director of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC), said on Monday that Iran’s gasoline production will hit 70 million liters per day by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2014).

Before the implementation of refining projects, Iran’s gasoline production capacity stood at 41.5 million liters per day which will increase to 70 million liters per day by March 2014, said the Iranian official.

He further said that upon the completion of all Iranian refining projects, the country’s gasoline output will rise to 144 million liters per day.

Last month, Iran inaugurated its biggest gasoline production hub with a capacity of 16 million liters per day near the central city of Shazand.

Iran attained self-sufficiency in fuel production after its international suppliers stopped selling gasoline to Tehran under US pressure.

At the beginning of 2012, the United States and the European Union (EU) imposed new sanctions on Iran’s oil and financial sectors.

The sanctions, which prevent the EU member states from purchasing Iran's oil or extending insurance coverage for tankers carrying Iranian crude, came into effect on July 1, 2012.

The illegal US-engineered sanctions were imposed based on the unfounded accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran rejects the allegation, arguing that as a committed signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

- PRESS TV