TEHRAN, April 4 (Mehr News Agency) - A National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Co. (NIOPDC) official here Wednesday predicted that gasoline consumption in the country in the new year (started March 21) will soar by 10 percent.

Saeid Ameri told MNA the average daily gasoline consumption in the year will rise to 80 to 80.5 million liters.

Taking the average daily 80 million liter consumption into consideration, over 1.04 billion liters of gasoline was used in the first 13 days of new Iranian year (from March 21 to April 2), he added.

The figures show a 12 percent growth when compared to those in its preceding year.

Iran is planning to ration gasoline as of late May.

On March 2, The Joint Budget Committee of Majlis (Iranian Parliament) gave the nod to a dual-price system to distribute gasoline nationwide.

In addition, the Oil Ministry and the Management and Planning Organization (MPO) are duty-bound to get the cabinet's approval of the executive bylaw for rationing and determining the open market price by late April.

... Payvand News - 4/4/07 ... --