Speaking on a TV program, Basafa said the main objective of changing the third-tier gasoline price was initially to improve fuel allocation.

He said large amounts of gasoline previously loaded onto motorists’ personal fuel cards went unused, while a significant share of demand shifted to emergency cards at gas stations. Authorities analyzed consumption data and adjusted fuel allocations in two stages, resulting in an initial decline in consumption.

Under the latest allocation system, private passenger vehicles receive 60 liters of gasoline at 15,000 rials per liter and another 50 liters at the second-tier price of 30,000 rials per liter.

New passenger vehicles valued at more than 10 billion rials do not receive the first- or second-tier allocations. Instead, 110 liters of gasoline at the third-tier price is loaded onto their smart fuel cards each month. Once the first- and second-tier allocations are exhausted, motorists must use gas station cards.

Basafa said a pilot project to identify and track emergency fuel cards is underway at two gas stations in Tehran. The system is designed to improve the management of fuel allocation and dispensing and to identify individual transactions. It is expected to be rolled out nationwide within two months.

Once gas station cards are registered, authorities will be able to determine which individual and vehicle used each card and monitor the number of transactions, allowing more precise management of fuel allocation and consumption.

The next stage will involve creating fuel-consumer profiles so that fuel use through gas station cards can be managed according to policies issued by authorities.

Basafa also discussed plans to use bank cards for fuel allocations. Under the proposed system, motorists would use their bank cards at fuel stations, while the amount they are permitted to obtain through a station’s fuel card would be determined based on information held by the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Co.

He said the company is also redesigning the smart fuel-card system and developing the infrastructure needed to better manage fuel allocation and dispensing.

Online taxi allocations

Regarding fuel allocations for online taxi services, Basafa said a recent meeting between the head of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Co. and online transportation platforms resulted in an agreement to increase their monthly allocation to as much as 300 liters.

The measure requires approval from the Article 8 Working Group. If approved and formally notified, it will be implemented beginning next month.

Basafa said the maximum amount of unused fuel allocation that can be stored on smart fuel cards is 180 liters.

The traditional process for obtaining a fuel card through Police +10 offices remains available and takes about 40 days. Under a new system, applicants can submit their requests online and select a regional office of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Co. where they want to collect their cards.

Under the in-person collection option, applicants can pick up their cards at the selected regional office after issuance, eliminating the need to wait for postal delivery.

Same-day fuel cards

Basafa said the same-day issuance of smart fuel cards, introduced during the war, has been expanded across the country.

Of the 240 regional offices operated by the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Co., 180 have been equipped with same-day card-issuance machines. A total of 195 machines are currently operational, issuing between 8,000 and 10,000 smart fuel cards daily.

Each regional office can process about 80 to 100 same-day applications per day, he said, adding that it cannot issue more than that.

Demand for same-day fuel cards has tripled, rising from about 12,000 applications a day to between 36,000 and 40,000, Basafa said.

The company plans to shift the same-day issuance process toward regional offices to better manage demand.

Asked about changes to fuel allocations for school transportation services following the reopening of schools, Basafa said the Ministry of Interior is responsible for making a decision.

He also said the redesign of the smart fuel-card system, which began last year, includes plans to install a new generation of domestically produced terminals at fuel stations.

The new terminals are being piloted in Tehran, Kish and Yazd. If the results are satisfactory, the system will be rolled out nationwide.