Tehran, July 27, IRNA - Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Distribution Company (NIODC), Farid Ameri, said here on Monday that Iran has managed to save 11 billion dollars thanks to the gasoline rationing plan, which has spared the need for excessive imports of the commodity. Referring to the distribution and delivery of 17 million fuel smart cards to Iranian auto drivers, Ameri said since 2007, when gasoline rationing plan went into effect, some dlrs 11 billion has been saved for the country out of cut in the gasoline imports.

He said that had the gasoline rationing plan not been implemented, fuel consumption nationwide would have reached as much as 98 million litters per day.

Under the gasoline rationing plan, a total 180 liters of gasoline have been considered for the summer season, some 60 liters for private vehicles in each month of summer.

The plan evisions allocation of 25 liters of gasoline for motorcycles and the same amount for the public sector vehicles, including pick-up trucks, taxis and cabs, each month of summer.

A monthly ration of 500 liters of semi-subsidized gasoline has also been considered for the purpose. The smart card system will be dismantled for ever gradually on a government decision.

Based on official estimates, daily consumption of open market gasoline has risen to nine million liters this year from 1.5 million liters on averge last year.

Head of the Headquarters for State Transport and Fuel, Mohammad Royanian, said recently that based on the summer ration of gasoline, the total gasoline consumed nationwide would amount to the domestic production of 45 million liters and there would thus be no need for importing gasoline.

"Currently, gasoline is being imported. A portion of the imports is stored and the remaining portion is to be used for procuring the needs of smart cards," noted Royanian.

He recalled that since March 21, marking the beginning of the Iranian calendar year of 1389 (2010-2011), about 26 million liters of gasoline had been consumed per day on the average nationwide.

© IRNA 2010