Mohammad-Tala Mazloumi said gasoline imports impose billions of dollars in foreign exchange costs on the country each year, underscoring the importance of improving energy consumption management. He noted that expanding alternative fuels, particularly CNG, remains one of the most practical solutions for curbing gasoline use.

“Current energy consumption patterns are not aligned with the country’s production resources,” Mazloumi said. “In some indicators, we rank among the world’s highest consumers. Therefore, even reducing gasoline consumption by one liter can have a meaningful impact on easing fuel imbalances.”

He also highlighted the efforts of oil industry workers in restoring damaged oil facilities and storage tanks. Despite disruptions, much of the lost production capacity was returned to operation within a short period, helping maintain stable fuel supplies, he said. However, Mazloumi emphasized that public cooperation in optimizing fuel consumption will be crucial going forward.

The lawmaker noted that manufacturing and export-oriented industries play a vital role in economic growth and foreign currency earnings, warning that energy shortages or restrictions in these sectors could harm the national economy. He said one of the Oil Ministry’s key responsibilities is to design an energy management and allocation system based on the actual needs of different regions and economic sectors to prevent waste and direct resources toward strategic industries.

Mazloumi added that maximizing the use of CNG capacity, expanding public transportation fleets, developing rail transit networks in major cities and investing in clean and renewable energy sources can help diversify the country’s fuel mix and reduce dependence on gasoline.