According to NIOPDC, Managing Director Mohammad-Sadeq Azimifar said one of the company’s main tasks under the new measure is to develop a system to identify vehicles eligible for fuel quotas. He said the platform has been designed and is now operational. Beginning Tuesday applicants can visit FCS.NIOPDC.IR to select their vehicle.

Azimifar noted that the plan also introduces credit-based fuel quotas for online ride-hailing platforms. A system and guideline for this purpose have been developed in cooperation with the Interior Ministry, the Plan and Budget Organization, and the platforms themselves, including Snapp and Tapsi. Under the mechanism, active vehicles on these platforms will receive a monthly rial-based credit proportional to their mileage to prevent fare increases resulting from the third fuel price tier or higher prices for emergency fuel cards at filling stations.

Free Conversion of Gasoline Cars to CNG

Azimifar said another responsibility assigned to NIOPDC is expanding dual-fuel fleets. He said one of the company’s main missions is to increase the number of dual-fuel vehicles, particularly in public transportation and high-consumption fleets. A system has been activated to allow owners to convert their gasoline vehicles to CNG free of charge. This measure, he said, enables the use of cheaper and cleaner CNG and shields those vehicles from the impact of gasoline price increases.

In addition to CNG, Azimifar said diversifying the fuel basket also includes adding LPG, as mandated by the annual budget law. Applicants within a 100-kilometer radius of existing refineries may establish LPG fueling stations, giving interested vehicle owners access to this fuel in the transportation sector.

He said actions have also been taken to boost production and manage consumption. Refinery optimization has already increased gasoline output, and two new refineries are expected to come online within about nine months. These steps, pursued in parallel, aim to increase domestic production and reduce the country’s need for gasoline imports.

Shift of Gasoline Consumption Toward CNG Expected

Azimifar said gasoline consumption is affected by several factors, including vehicle efficiency, the use of public transportation, and the adoption of alternative fuels such as CNG.

He said that although the new gasoline plan is only a small step toward managing consumption, proper implementation of consumption-management measures could shift part of gasoline demand toward CNG. Forecasts show that between 1 million and 2 million liters per day of gasoline consumption may move to CNG, helping reduce pressure on the country’s gasoline supply system.