Iran stops import of premium gasoline

Iran has stopped the import of premium gasoline after it launched several optimization units to improve the quality of Shahid Tondgouyan oil refinery's products in Tehran, an official of National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) said Tuesday. "After launching the (Shahid Tondgouyan refinery's) gasoline production units, we will save 1.5 million to 2 million liters of gasoline per day and there is no more need to import premium gasoline from foreign countries," the NIORDC Managing Director Alireza Zeiqami announced Tuesday at a ceremony to mark the launch of Tondgouyan oil refinery's optimization units, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. As the fourth oil producer in the world, Iran lags behind in the oil refinery industry and relies a lot on import of refined petroleum and other energy products. However, Iranian officials have reiterated that the West's potential gasoline sanction on Iran over its nuclear program will help the country gain self-sufficiency in gasoline demands, and the country will be able to meet its gasoline needs in a short time under any circumstances.