Mohammad-Sadeq Azimifar stated that utilizing small refineries and attracting new investors could play a key role in expanding refining capacity. 

On Saturday, May 10, Azimifar stated the above to reporters at the 29th International Oil, Gas, Refining & Petrochemical Exhibition (Iran Oil Show 2025) regarding the development of refining capacity and addressing gasoline imbalances.

“Because the refining industry is capital-intensive, the more we can utilize the capacity of small refineries, the more funding will be attracted. Therefore, a small project in the Siraf region with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day is being put into operation, which, given that it also has quality-enhancing processing units, can help with the gasoline imbalance. Another 60-thousand-barrel refinery will also be put into operation next year.”

Regarding the country’s mini-refinery complexes, he announced the development of a joint guideline in cooperation with the Anti-Smuggling Task Force and the Planning Department of the Ministry of Petroleum to organize the mini-refineries, adding: We hope that this guideline will be implemented this year in order to make targeted use of the capacity of these complexes

No plans for three-tiered gasoline pricing 

The CEO of the NIORDC stated regarding the three-tier pricing of gasoline stated that there is no scenario on the table.

Azimifar, nodding to the issue of product smuggling from refineries, pointed out that there are 10 main active refineries in the country with a daily capacity of 2.4 million barrels, which deliver all products to the Ministry of Petroleum at international prices, claimed that the smuggling price is currently lower than the FOB price due to transportation costs as questioned the refineries motif to smuggle and added with precise measurement systems at the refinery outlets and the supervision of the General Directorate of Exports and Oil Exchanges over this process, the possibility of any violations is eliminated.

In response to a question about the import of super gasoline he said that fortunately, after follow-ups, meetings of the Regulatory Reform Board were held in the Ministry of Economy, and the guideline that was submitted to the Ministry of Economy last February was revised. He said It is expected that the approval of the Regulatory Reform Board will be issued in the near future, and it will be possible to issue licenses for importers and distributors of super gasoline in the national licensing portal. Private sector activists who were spoken to at this exhibition have welcomed this action. The price of imported gasoline is also proportional to the costs

The CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, referring to quality improvement projects in the country’s refineries, said: In the Shiraz refinery, all produced gas oil is now produced according to the Euro 5 standard and this success is the result of investment and modernization in the operational units of this refinery. Given the progress of the gasoline quality improvement project in the Tehran refinery, it is estimated that it will be fully operational by the end of this year.

180% growth in diesel consumption

Azimifar pointed to the 180percent growth in gas oil consumption in 1403 stating that several projects in the field of improving the quality of produced products were implemented in 1403, including the commissioning of the isomerization unit of the Shiraz refinery with which the gasoline of this refinery is fully produced according to the Euro standard.

In a report on the progress of refining projects in different provinces of the country, he said According to the statements made, the RHU refining project of the Isfahan refinery is progressing weekly with a specific time commitment, and the operation of this project is a priority until the beginning of next year. Also, the KHT project of the Isfahan refinery will be put into operation by late June.