For years, mini-refineries have denied any gasoline exports and have denied accusations of fuel smuggling; but now the CEO of Shazand Petrochemical Company is openly saying that some of these units export gasoline to Afghanistan, and their exit routes are through the Dogharoon and Milak borders.
Refining industry experts warn that government intervention in pricing special products threatens the future profitability of refineries. According to refining industry expert Mehdi Mohseni, experience has shown that mandated pricing not only suppresses production, but also erodes industries' profit margins and creates the basis for rents.
The deputy head of Site 2 of the South Pars Gas Complex announced the successful implementation of major repairs at the refineries of this site and said: "This operation, relying on local technical knowledge and equipment, is an important step in increasing the productivity and sustainability of natural gas production."
Refining expert Mehdi Mohseni, referring to the global energy transition trend, emphasizes that developing and building new refineries without improving the demand side will not lead anywhere. In his opinion, the main solution is to increase the complexity factor and create additional units in existing refineries.
While the government has resorted to imports to supply fuel, the widespread smuggling of subsidized diesel under the guise of mini-refineries is generating millions of dollars in profits for brokers every day; a structural phenomenon that exports national subsidies abroad with official permission.
The CEO of the Isfahan Oil Refinery announced the start of the trial operation of the first phase of the project to transfer water from the sea to Isfahan Province, saying: "With the operation of this project, about 700,000 cubic meters of water needed by this refinery will be provided monthly in this way."
The CEO of the National Iranian Petroleum Refining and Distribution Company announced a daily average reduction of 5 million liters of oil and gas consumption in 1404 compared to last year, saying: "This success is the result of implementing control policies and measures, using smart tools to combat fuel smuggling, and intensifying monitoring of major non-power plant consumers."
Private sector representative of the Small Scale Association: Despite 10 state and quasi-state refineries, less than one percent of refineries are private.
Following a significant increase in gasoline production capacity in less than a year, the 14th government has succeeded in bringing about one of the largest infrastructure developments in Iran's fuel industry. This growth has been achieved by reforming processes, improving refinery productivity, and implementing emergency projects.
The head of the CNG Association said: "Providing fuel for light vehicles in times of crisis is best done through gas. If vehicles move towards dual-fuel, the load on liquid fuel stations will be reduced."
