Iran says ready to export gasoline

TEHRAN, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Alireza Zeighami said the country had begun marketing plans for the imminent exports of its gasoline, local satellite Press TV reported on Wednesday.

Zeighami said Tuesday that neighboring countries were Iran's top priorities, according to Press TV.

The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company ( NIORDC) has issued a permit for the export of one billion liters of gasoline, Zeighami was quoted as saying.

Zeighami expressed hope that four shipments of Iran's gasoline would be dispatched by March 20.

Commenting on the potential markets for the export of the Iranian gasoline, he said negotiations were underway for the exports of various oil products to neighboring states, including Iraq, according to the report.

The Oil Ministry also sought to export other oil products such as diesel, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas, he added.

In September, Iran said that it started exporting gasoline.

"The first shipment of Iran's gasoline has been exported," Ali Asghar Arshi, manager of international affairs at the National Iranian Oil Company said without specifying which country had bought Iran's first gasoline shipment.

The United States, European Union and some other Western countries have approved sanctions on some forms of energy exports to Iran to make the country halt its sensitive nuclear program.

Feb 23^rd, 2011

Source: English.news.cn