TEHRAN, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- With five additional oil refineries planned, Iran expects to boost capacity to the point that it becomes a gasoline exporter, state media reports.
Iran under a five-year development program plans to build five new oil refineries and two production facilities.
The Persian Gulf coast city of Bandar Abbas will host the largest facility, the Persian Gulf Star, with the capacity to produce 9.4 million gallons of gasoline per day, Iran's officials Islamic Republic News Agency reports.
IRNA said net production from the new facilities will not only meet domestic demand for gasoline, but also position the country as a net exporter.
Iran last week announced it began working on its first-ever diesel engine to fit its Samand line of passenger vehicles by the end of 2011. Officials expect the engine to get about 60 miles per gallon, curbing gasoline consumption.
Iran enacted strict rationing in 2009 to compensate for production shortfalls as it imports nearly half of its gasoline currently.
A U.S. Senate measure passed Thursday, meanwhile, gives U.S. President Barack Obama the authority to sanction persons or other entities that sell gasoline or refined petroleum products to Iran.
