TEHRAN - Iran’s deputy oil minister said that 75 percent of the gasoline produced in the country complies with EUR 4 and 5 standards.

Once the development units of the refineries are commissioned, 100 percent of the gasoline produced in the country will meet EUR standards, CEO of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) Jalil Salari added.

Speaking to some senior managers of the refining companies, held at the Tehran Oil Refinery, he stated that a part of the development units of the refinery became operational years ago and then, new projects were defined that were halted for some time, the most important of which was the gasoline production unit that was supposed to produce 6.5 million liters of gasoline with EUR 4 and 5 standards.

After the launch of the second phase of the Abadan Oil Refinery and adding the qualitative productions of the Tehran and Shiraz refineries, 100 percent of the gasoline in the country will be produced with EUR standards, he further said.

Back in May, the head of Imam Khomeini Oil Refining Company said the company was ready to produce gasoline observing requirements of Euro-5 standard rules and regulations.

Majid Rajabi said the company is at the stage of producing gasoline with Euro-5 standards and it will hit the market in a limited volume.

The quality of gasoline has always been a bone of contention between the environmental and oil industry experts.

Despite sanctions imposed against the country, Iran is prepared to produce gasoline with Euro-5 standards.

The Euro-5 gasoline is produced and supplied in coordination with the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution and Refining Company, the official said.

The company has expressed its readiness to supply all of its produced gasoline and diesel according to Euro-5 standards, he said.

The official put the current volume of the Euro-4 gasoline and diesel produced at the Imam Khomeini Oil Refining Company in Shazand at about 16 and 12.4 million liters respectively.

According to him, the amount of production and supply of Euro 5 gasoline should be coordinated with the refining and distribution company of petroleum products and we act based on the policies determined by them. Of course, Shazand Oil Refining Company is ready to supply its entire production of gasoline and diesel at Euro 5.

He pointed out that with the production of Euro 5 gasoline, the amount of gasoline produced may decrease slightly, and explained: Currently, with the production of Euro 5 gasoline, the amount of gasoline produced may decrease slightly, but with the implementation of a new program, the decrease in production volume can be prevented.

EF/