Mohammad-Sadeq Azimifar made the statement on Tuesday during a ceremony marking the signing of a pilot agreement to transfer fuel quotas from fuel cards to vehicle owners' bank accounts.

He emphasized that the company, as the entity responsible for supplying and distributing petroleum products in the country, is undertaking a series of measures to address existing imbalances and manage consumption. Many of these measures are mandated by law, with legislators assigning clear responsibilities to the oil company based on a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

Azimifar noted that one of the key measures long neglected is the modernization of the fuel purchasing infrastructure. The smart fuel card system was implemented in 2007, and fuel purchases for transportation have since been based on these cards and their related infrastructure.

However, he pointed out that the system faces numerous hardware and software challenges. While it has provided satisfactory service to the public over the years, it now requires updates to enhance its defensive capabilities, monitoring, and consumption management.

Currently, 40% of fuel purchases at stations are made through station cards, making it unclear how much fuel is being purchased and by whom. Azimifar warned that this method could facilitate fuel smuggling. He also highlighted that the smart fuel cards have not fully met public satisfaction due to lengthy issuance processes and limited accessibility, underscoring the need for improved user experience and access.

The CEO stressed that the 2024 budget law has created an opportunity to implement these updates. However, pilot testing of various models is necessary to identify the most effective approach. On Tuesday, a pilot agreement was signed with the Tehran Municipality and a knowledge-based company to test one such model.

Azimifar expressed hope that in the coming months, NIORDC and other parallel entities with the necessary capacity would conduct pilot programs. After evaluating feedback, the new bank account-based fuel purchasing system could be operationalized in coordination with the Central Bank, the Ministry of Economy, and the Passive Defense Organization.

The signing ceremony for the pilot agreement to transfer fuel quotas from fuel cards to bank accounts was held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, attended by Azimifar, Mousi Ahmad, head of the Energy Committee of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Mohsen Hormozi, deputy of transportation at the Tehran Municipality, and Morteza Fathollahzadeh, CEO of the Kowsar Innovation and Excellence Center at the University of Tehran.