Iran Rations Gas!

[Hootad Binky]

They must be embarrassed about this And Iranians are seriously pissed about it. Ahmadinejad is now about as popular in Iran as GWB is in the U.S.

Gas rationing sparks attacks in Iran
The Associated Press

Last Updated: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | 7:46 AM ET
Angry Iranians attacked several gas stations in protest after the government suddenly began long-threatened fuel rationing, while many others rushed to fill their tanks.

Several stations were attacked "by vandals," state radio reported early Wednesday. It did not say how many stations were damaged or give details.

Iranians set debris alight in the street during a protest against gas-rationing in Tehran early Wednesday.
(Associated Press)

The Oil Ministry announced the start of rationing Tuesday night, just three hours before it was due to begin at midnight. Some stations in Tehran had lines almost one kilometre long as drivers tried to get one last fill-up before the limitations kicked in.

Minutes before midnight, car owners still caught in the long lines began blaring their horns over and over in protest — sparking arguments with nearby residents trying to sleep.

"Is this good timing, to announce rationing only three hours before it starts?" complained Ahmad Safai, a 30-year-old shopkeeper who was in line. "I had no gas in my car's tank when I heard the report."
The Iranian government has been planning for weeks to implement rationing, which was supposed to begin May 21 but was repeatedly delayed. In May, the government reduced subsidies for gas, causing a 25 per cent jump in the price.

The issue is enormously sensitive in this oil-rich nation, where people are used to having cheap and plentiful gas.

Hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power in the 2005 election based largely on his promises to improve the faltering economy. But his failure to do so has sparked widespread criticism.

"This man Ahmadinejad has damaged all things. The timing of the rationing is just one case," said Reza Khorrami, a 27-year-old teacher who was among those lined up at one Tehran gas station before midnight.
Iran is the second-biggest exporter in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. But because it has low refining capability, it has to import more than 50 per cent of its gasoline needs. To keep prices low, the government subsidized gas sales, saddling it with enormous costs.
Under the rationing plan, owners of private cars can buy only 26 gallons (98 litres) of fuel per month at the subsidized price of 38 cents per gallon. Taxis can get 211 gallons a month at the subsidized price.

Conservatives in Iran's parliament, especially those aligned with the country's national oil company, have long pushed for higher gasoline prices with the hope of curtailing demand and freeing up government spending to invest in more oil and gas production.

Still, Ahmadinejad has resisted allowing increases because of his campaign promises to share Iran's oil wealth with the nation's poor. Iran has a law that says gasoline prices must increase 10 per cent every year, but the president has resisted efforts by parliament to reverse a 2005 decision to suspend the annual increases.


© The Canadian Press, 2007

Gas rationing sparks attacks in Iran

[Butterfly]

Iran is the second-biggest exporter in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. But because it has low refining capability, it has to import more than 50 per cent of its gasoline needs

and hence making it a legitimate target for the US War on Terror

[Boon Mee]

Like John McCain sang at a campaign rally the other day to the tune of the Beach Boys "Barbara Ann"

Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran - bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran... mheh...

[sabang]

Iran repeatedly says that there are serious economic reasons for it to develop nuclear energy.
Tha great unwashed public has just been told why, although it's up to them to intellectually put the peg in the hole.

[Hootad Binky]

So they can build uranium gas certrifuges but not refineries?

[raycarey]

^
you do realize there is a finite amount of oil in the ground, right?

[Hootad Binky]

^
you do realize there is a finite amount of oil in the ground, right?

They have the second-largest proven reserves in the world; are you saying that isn't enough to meet domestic demand for gasoline?

Iran Iran has the world's second largest reserves of conventional crude oil at 133 gigabarrels, according to the CIA World Factbook, although it should be noted that both Canada and Venezuela have larger reserves if Non-conventional oil is included. Iran is the second largest oil holder globally with approximately 10% of the world's oil.Oil reserves - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The issue is enormously sensitive in this oil-rich nation, where people are used to having cheap and plentiful gas.

[sabang]

^ It ain't the gas, it's the refining capacity.
They export gas for less than one tenth what they have to import the refined product for. Bad terms of trade.

[Boon Mee]

^
you do realize there is a finite amount of oil in the ground, right?

There's a 'finite' amount of everything out there ray w/exception of common sense. Don't fret about that fuel supply for your bus that gets you to work - there's so much oil in the ground, we're not running out for a very long time...

[Hootad Binky]

^ It ain't the gas, it's the refining capacity.
They export gas

They export oil; if they exported gas, they wouldn't be having this problem in the first place! Hellooooooo

for less than one tenth what they have to import the refined product for. Bad terms of trade.

(for the second time ) then why don't they simply build more refineries? Surely they must be making enough in oil revenue...

[keda]

^ It ain't the gas, it's the refining capacity.
They export gas for less than one tenth what they have to import the refined product for. Bad terms of trade.

In that case common sense says they should stop arsing around and causing fear and instability and driving oil prices up...dunno, that's what I would do if I was actually losing out by driving oil prices up because I have lots of the stuff.

Could be that certain Arab/Islamic leaders really don't mind their own people losing an arm apiece if they can also cause some infidels to lose a finger.