Tehran, Iran, April 27
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
The Iranian government cancelled the cheap gasoline quota of taxis for this month.
The government allocated the taxis' special gasoline quota with the price of 4,000 rials per liter at the beginning of the Iranian calendar moth of Ordibehesht (April 21). The government refused to allocate other cars' quota as it was supposed to increase the prices of energy carriers as part of the second phase of the subsidy reform plan, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported on April 27.
However, after the government announced the new prices, it annulled the previously allocated quota of the taxis, saying could only use the quota at the first four days of the month.
National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) announced on April 24 that as of midnight (April 25) semi-subsidized gasoline would be presented at 7,000 rials, while the free market price would stand at 10,000 rials, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported.
Semi-subsidized gasoline was previously sold at 4,000 rials (33 cents), while the free market gasoline price was 7,000 rials.
Iranians with cars will receive a monthly allowance of 60 liters with the semi-subsidized price and have to pay the free market price for larger volumes.
Based on the new prices, semi-subsidized super gasoline and free market super gasoline will also be presented at 8,000, and 11,000 rials, respectively.
According to the government, Iranians who still have some semi-subsidized gasoline quota in their cards (except for taxis), can use their stored allowance with the previous price (4,000 rials) until further notice.
Abolfazl Ghena'ati, a member of Tehran City Council, said on April 26 that public transportation fares will rise in Iranian capital, Tehran, as of May 6.
"Prices were supposed to rise as of April 21, but the government asked the City Council to wait until the implementation of the second phase of subsidy reform plan," he explained.
Ghena'ati previously said that a decision on a 25-percent increase in taxi fares was made in the previous calendar year (which ended on March 20).
"The government needs to provide the public transportation sector with cheaper diesel oil and electricity, he said on April 23.
According to NIORDC, diesel oil will be sold at 2,500 rials, while CNG will be presented at the price of 4,500 rials per cubic meters.
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on April 23 that the quality of gasoline would be increased next [Iranian calendar] year (to start March 21, 2015).