Ministry of Oil Confirms Gasoline Deficit and Details Efforts to Secure Summer Needs

The Ministry of Oil confirmed a daily deficit in gasoline, with a shortage of 5 million liters, while the daily demand for the summer season rises to 35 million liters. The Ministry's spokesperson, Salim Al-Rikabi, explained that the Ministry is keen on securing petroleum derivatives for citizens, leading it to import improved gasoline from abroad via southern ports. This import aims to cover the gap between local production and consumption, and address the deficit between refinery capacity and market needs. Al-Rikabi added that the import of improved gasoline currently faces difficulties due to security conditions and regional conflicts, pointing to a real challenge in finding companies that offer sufficient quantities of improved gasoline for sale. He clarified that the Ministry has managed to contract with only one company that owns a single tanker. Once the tanker arrives and unloads its cargo at the ports, the improved gasoline is supplied to fuel stations, ensuring the availability of required quantities for citizens. Al-Rikabi indicated that the period between a tanker's departure and the arrival of the next takes approximately four days. During this time, the Ministry relies on its available reserves to supply stations, but the quantities provided are lower, which may lead to shortages in some stations. He affirmed that the Ministry is working to overcome this situation and address the shortages. The Minister of Oil has directed the search for another company and an additional tanker to support the current one, ensuring continuous supply operations and covering all required quantities of improved gasoline. Al-Rikabi stressed that efforts are underway to resolve the issue and provide improved gasoline more stably. He anticipated a noticeable improvement in supply operations, which will meet citizens' needs and reduce the fuel shortages experienced by some stations recently. In a related context, Al-Rikabi revealed that the volume of the gasoline deficit fluctuates daily according to consumption rates, estimated at approximately 5 thousand cubic meters (equivalent to 5 million liters). Iraq's daily gasoline requirement during summer reaches about 35 million liters, with part of this deficit being covered through imports.