Azerbaijan , Baku, March 15 / Trend, A.Yusifzade /
Iran's liquid fuel consumption in power plants has increased by 244 million liters to 14.557 billion liters from the beginning of the current Iranian year started March 21, 2010, compared to the previous year (March 21,2009- March 20,2010), ILNA reported quoting the Managing Director of National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC), Farid Ameri as saying.
According to Ameri, Iran's gas oil consumption has increased by 880 million liters to 5.776 billion liters while fuel oil consumption reduced by 635 million liters to 8.781 billion liters since the beginning of the current Iranian year.
"Since the commencement of the targeted subsidies law in less than three months ago $1.8 billion have been saved due to falling oil products consumption," Ameri said.
Since the start of lifting energy subsidies on Dec. 19, 2010, average daily gasoline consumption had fallen to 61 million liters per day, down 7.2 million liters a day in comparison with similar period last year, Ameri added.
Ameri noted during the mentioned period, daily gas oil and fuel oil consumption (power plants not included) stood at 70 and 8.9 million liters respectively, down by 13 and 8 million liters per day against similar period a year earlier.
"Since the phasing out energy subsidies, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and kerosene consumption have fallen to 6.356 tons and 16.8 million liters per day respectively indicating 1.9 tons and six million liters reduction in comparison with the similar period last year," the official remarked.
Ameri said following the sanctions imposed by West, oil industry's experts and staff started producing high quality gasoline at the petrochemical complexes leading not only to self-sufficiency in gasoline production but to improvement the level of gasoline stocks.
Amiri stressed that by completion of upgrading plans at Imam Khomaini (Shazand), Abadan and Shahid Toondgouyan (Tehran) oil refineries next year, not only domestic oil refineries would reach self- sufficiency in gasoline production but the country would be able to export the strategic oil product.
"NIOPDC plans to start marketing oil refined products in the South East Asia markets next year," Ameri added.
"We held talks with Afghanistan's officials on exporting oil products to the county and expressed our readiness for exporting gasoline, gas oil, kerosene and jet fuel to the neighboring country on their demand", Amiri said.
" We also held successful talks with Iraqi delegation to export fuel to the country striking deals to supply its power plants," Amiri added.
Iran is the world's fourth-largest oil exporter and sits on the second-largest gas reserves after Russia.