Mohammad-Javad Askari, explaining a Monday meeting of the parliament’s Commission on Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and the Environment attended by Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, said the session addressed a question raised by Nadergholi Ebrahimi, the lawmaker representing Arak, Komijan and Khondab, regarding follow-up on fuel supply issues for agricultural machinery.

Askari said discussions and conclusions from the meeting showed that the Oil Ministry has provided the required fuel for agricultural machinery, but the Agriculture Ministry has not exercised effective management in distribution and the manner of releasing the fuel.

He added that the Headquarters for Combating Smuggling of Goods and Currency and other relevant bodies also have defined responsibilities for which they must be accountable, stressing that responsibility cannot be shifted from one institution to another.

Askari said it was decided that within the next week a central committee comprising all relevant agencies will be formed to clearly determine where the fuel supply and distribution process begins and ends, and what oversight and executive duties each body holds.

He said the formula for fuel consumption by agricultural machinery will be revised so that consumption by tractors and diesel engines is calculated based on distance traveled and hours of operation. Details will be announced at a future meeting, he said, to ensure farmers no longer face concerns over fuel supply.