While during the first week of Ramadan gasoline consumption fell by 9.3 percent, falling consumption continued in the second week of the month by another 6.1 percent.
 

Statistics published by the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) showed average daily gasoline consumption stood at 57.2 million liters during the week ended on Aug 3. Total gasoline consumption during the week hit 401 million liters down by 26.1 million liters or 6.1 percent against a week earlier.  

Despite lower gasoline consumption, gasoil consumption climbed during the week reaching 103.5 million liters per day. Total gasoil consumption stood at 724.5 million liters up by 95.2 or 15.1 percent week on week.

Earlier this month, NIORDC’s managing director, Alireza Zeighami, said that Iran’s gasoline production capacity would hit 70 million liters per day at the end of current Iranian calendar year on 20 March 2013.

Speaking at opening ceremony of a new gasoline-making unit at Shahid Tondgouyan (Tehran) oil refinery, Zeighami said NIORDC had focused its efforts on two important issues that include improving the quality and boosting production capacity.  

The official further said the company planned to produce oil products such as gasoline, gasoil, and kerosene compatible with updated standards of Europe.

‘Sulfur content of some oil products such as gasoil and kerosene was very high that will come down to 40 part per million by launching new projects’, Zeighmai noted.

Iran’s oil refineries intake stands as 1.850 million barrels per day, the official said adding production capacity of four main oil products stands at 246 million liters per day.

According to Zeighami average daily gasoline consumption stood at 73 million liters in Iranian calendar year 1385 (began 20 March 2006) but fell to 64 million liters per day during the first three months of 1386 , started 20 March 2007, concurrent with implementation of targeted subsidies law and to 61 million liters after implementation of the law.

In the first three months of current Iranian calendar year, began 20 March 2012, average daily gasoline consumption stood at 62.5 million liters that would have risen to 130 million liters per day if targeted subsidies law had not been come into force, Zeighami concluded.