He announced that a license for importing premium gasoline has been issued through the national permits portal, with several private companies having placed orders currently under review.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of a ceremony to inaugurate the Isfahan Refinery's kerosene quality improvement project (KHT), Mohammad-Sadeq Azimifar pointed to extensive efforts within the country's refining sector in recent months.

"Today, through the implementation of environmental projects, initiatives to boost production capacity and quality, the development of transmission and storage infrastructure, and consumption management and anti-smuggling efforts, the refining industry has taken major strides toward stable production and a reliable fuel supply, painting a bright future," Azimifar said.

He stated that with the country facing a fuel imbalance due to growing consumption in recent years, Iran shifted from being an exporter of oil products to an importer. To overcome this, a dual strategy of increasing quality production and managing consumption was adopted. Consequently, over the past year, by increasing feedstock to existing refineries and launching new units, nearly 5 million liters have been added to the country's daily gasoline production capacity.

Alongside this increased production, a series of new refining projects are underway, with some set to become operational in the coming months. These include the 60,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) South Adish refinery and the 120,000-bpd Persian Gulf Mehr refinery in Bandar Abbas, as well as quality improvement projects like the DHT project at the Shiraz refinery and the gasoline quality project at the Tehran refinery.

Regarding consumption management, Azimifar noted that while other entities are primarily responsible, the refining sector has been active. He highlighted the revival of a stalled fleet modernization plan using energy-saving bonds and the reactivation of fuel diversification plans, particularly compressed natural gas (CNG) development.

He also cited the serious challenge of fuel smuggling, addressed through new data analysis and smartening systems. These efforts have, for the first time, reversed the consumption trend of diesel, with an average 4% to 5% reduction recorded this year.

Azimifar stressed that continuing production increases requires securing financial resources and removing obstacles. "The path ahead for the refining industry is difficult and requires the cooperation of all agencies and stakeholders for sustainable development to continue," he said.

On the topic of importing super gasoline, he confirmed, "The license for importing premium gasoline has been issued through the national permits portal, and several private companies have registered their orders, a process which is being followed up."

Addressing a decrease in refinery profitability last year, he attributed it partly to a global decline in refining margins. An internally approved feedstock and product formula also played a major role. This formula is now under review to guide the industry's financial relations toward stability and reasonable profitability.

In conclusion, Azimifar noted that through development projects and consumption management, the country's diesel reserves have reached their highest historical level. He announced that an additional 180,000 bpd of refining capacity will be added by the end of this year, with more projects planned before the end of the current administration.