Iran gasoline produce to reach 55mn lpd

Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Alireza Zeighami says Iran’s gasoline production capacity will increase by about 10 million liters, reaching 55 million liters per day by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2011).

Zeighami said on Saturday that gasoline production capacity of Iran will hit 55 million liters a day when the development plans of Shazand, Abadan, and Tehran refineries come on stream in February, the official website of Iran’s Oil Ministry SHANA reported.

“Currently the projects are ahead of schedule and for example Shahid Tondgouyan Refinery will become operational three months sooner than expected,” he went on to say.

Zeighami said in August that Iran allocated $2.2 billion for seven gasoline production and refinery renovation projects. Currently the projects are 70 percent complete on average.

He stated that once the projects come on stream, 12 million liters of gasoline would be added to the country’s production capacity and 70 percent of the nation’s demand for the product will be met by domestic produce.

Zeighami noted that NIORDC has allotted $2 billion of the mentioned amount to Tehran, Abadan, Esfahan, Tabriz, Bandar Abbas, Imam Khomeini and Lavan gasoline production refineries, and the rest of the funds will be spent to expedite the completion of ongoing projects.

The official further explained that the country has no problem to meet its gasoline needs, noting that Iran currently produces 45 million liters of gasoline per day and is the second-biggest crude oil producer in the Middle East.

According to Zeighami, Iran consumes 62 million liters of gasoline a day, so several petrochemical complexes have shifted operation to produce gasoline to help Iran meet the rest of it’s gasoline needs and end its reliance on imports.