TEHRAN (PIN) – Iran’s Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari here Sunday announced that the monthly gasoline ration of private cars would likely soar to 120 from current 100 liters.

He made the statement in his talks with reporters on the sidelines of 12th IIES International Oil and Gas Conference entitled “Developments in Geopolitics of Energy and the Role of Natural Gas”.
“We are trying to identify the weak and strong points of the first gasoline rationing plan through expert-level studies,” said the minister.
He added the experts discussed weak and strong points of the rationing plan and consumption of private cars, taxis, and pick-up trucks.
“We have yet to make a decision on quota of hybrid cars,” said Nozari, adding the issue would be finalized in the upcoming sessions.
Shifting to the quota of state-owned and public vehicles, the minister said, “We are trying to use compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel for them.”
He added Petroleum Ministry was not going to offer gasoline at open-market rate.
From June 22, Iran began rationing gasoline and the Petroleum Ministry has allocated each private motorist 100 liters per month at about 11 cents per liter. Although Iran is a leading OPEC member and the world’s fourth-biggest oil producer with a daily oil production of 4.2 million barrels, it still spends about five to eight billion dollars annually on gasoline imports due to a lack of refineries and a preference for oil export.
Under this plan, gasoline is only supplied through smart card, an initiative taken by President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to stop lavish fuel consumption -- 73 million liters daily -- by over seven million cars nationwide.
Gasoline is currently sold at 1,000 rials (close to 11 cents) per liter and via smart cards in filling stations.