Iran’s media say the country has been importing about 8 million liters of gasoline per day since mid-March, adding that the figure shows a two-fold increase compared to six months prior.    

A report by Mehr News Agency has quoted Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh as saying that a total of 1.3 billion liters of the crucial fuel has been imported into Iran for the past six months.

The overall value of the imports stands at above $800 million ($0.6 per liter) – an amount that would suffice the construction of a refinery with a daily processing capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, Zangeneh said.

The minister has blamed the rise on vacation trips made in summer and spring. He has also blamed a delay in the maintenance of Shazand Refinery in Arak for the surge of the imports.

Mehr report further adds that Iran’s consumption of gasoline stands at an average of 72 million liters per day over a period of six months starting March 21.

The figure shows a minor increase of 3 percent compared to the same period last year.

Iranian officials expect the imports of gasoline to exceed 2 billion liters over the next six months, the report added.

Fuel prices in Iran are still among the cheapest in the world, which have resulted in a habit of prodigal consumption by many citizens. More than 15 million vehicles ply the country’s roads which guzzle enormous amounts of fuel.

According to the local media, the government has to increase gasoline imports especially after ditching plans to build 13 new oil refineries due to technical and financial issues.

Zangeneh, however, has said Iran would need no more gasoline imports next year once a major refinery - Persian Gulf Star Refinery – becomes operational.

Iran is building the Persian Gulf Star Refinery in the southern energy hub of Assalouyeh at an estimated cost of 2.5 billion euros. The plant is further expected to produce 360,000 barrels per day of gas condensates on top of jet fuel and other products.

By Press TV