Iran May Give More Fuel Rations to Help Tourism

Iran may offer drivers extra gasoline above their monthly quota, a newspaper said on Monday, in a move to help boost domestic tourism which hoteliers say has suffered a blow since fuel rationing started in June.

Iran, OPEC’s second-biggest oil producer, started rationing gasoline on June 27, as summer holidays began and when Iranians usually leave town, many to Caspian Sea resorts in the north.

The fuel scheme was introduced to curb soaring consumption which far outstripped the country’s ability to produce gasoline. Iran was importing about 40 percent of its needs before rationing began, costing it some $5 billion a year.

But many private drivers complain the 100 litres they get each month is not enough to meet everyday needs, let alone holidays. Airline travel has surged since rationing started.

“Following the final decision of decision-makers, 150 to 200 litres of ‘travel gasoline’ will be added to the quotas of drivers in the country,” Tehran Emrouz newspaper reported on Monday, without citing a source for its report.

Reuters