Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 18
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:
While there is no accurate statistics on gasoline smuggling from Iran, some officials claim that about 20-40 million liters of gasoline are smuggled daily, the Khabaronline News Agency reported.
In countries neighboring Iran, the price of gasoline ranges between 30 cents and $1.5 per liter, while in Iran it is about 7 cents.
This difference can also be observed in prices of diesel, liquid gas and other types of fuel.
If according to the official rates, $1 equals 42,000 Iranian rials, the price of gasoline per liter in Iran is more than 28,500 rials. But at filling stations the price of gasoline is 10,000 rials per liter.
Fuel smuggling is mostly observed in Iran's Sistan and Balouchestan Province. The high level of unemployment in this province has an impact on the issue.
Some statistics indicate that the revenue from gasoline smuggling is astronomical.
If at least 20 million liters of gasoline are smuggled daily and the price is 100,000 Iranian rials per liter, then the revenue will amount to two trillion rials. If a smuggler sells 40 million liters a day, he will may earn up to four trillion rials.
Gasoline smuggling is not the only issue that hurts Iran's economy. Smuggling has spread into every sector of the economy.
There are talks in Iran about applying the fuel cards again.
It seems that in order to combat smuggling, gasoline prices will be increased, as well as the fuel cards will be brought to use again.
