The head of Iran's Committee for Transportation and Fuel Management says Iran is capable of becoming self-sufficient in gasoline production this year, Press TV reported.
"Considering efforts made by the Oil Ministry, we believe that we can increase gasoline production by 10 million litters (per day) this year," Mehr news agency quoted Mohammad Rouyanian as saying on Saturday.
"Iran's gasoline consumption stands at 62 million litters per day, of which 45 million litters are produced locally," he added.
"In normal circumstances, we would not become self-sufficient in gasoline production this year, but if certain conditions, such as sanctions are created, then we can increase our gasoline production to meet local demands and this can happen by the end of the year, and even during the first quarter of the new [Iranian] year (which began on March 21)," Rouyanian added.
Last year, the US House of Representatives approved legislation to impose sanctions on foreign companies that help supply gasoline to Iran, as part of Washington's efforts to put more pressure on Tehran over its peaceful nuclear program.
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