BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 19
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend
As a result of the spread of coronavirus in Iran, the consumption of gasoline has decreased by 68 million liters per day, with reduced intra-city and intercity traffic, said Keramat Veys-Karami, managing director of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, Trend reports citing Shana news agency.
According to Veys-Karami, gasoline consumption was at least 95 million liters a day in the last Iranian year (from March 21, 2018, to March 21, 2019) in Iran.
Veys-Karami added that prior to the rise in gasoline prices in Iran, consumption of compressed natural gas (CNG) was 19 million cubic meters daily. After the increase of the price on gasoline, this figure increased by 5 million cubic meters per day.
On Nov. 15, 2019, the price of gasoline sold on quota increased from 10,000 rials (23 cents) to 15,000 rials (35 cents) and the price of gasoline sold free from the quota increased to 30,000 rials (71 cents) in Iran.
Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 17,000 people have been infected, 1,135 people have died. Meanwhile, over 5,700 have reportedly recovered from the disease.
The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings.
The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.