TEHRAN, Feb 23 (Shana) -- Iran is to start operating the first phase of Persian Gulf Star Refinery during the second half of the next Iranian calendar year which begins on March 21.

The refinery will start producing high-octane gasoline, said Deputy Petroleum Minister Abbas Kazemi in an interview with Shana on National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIOPDC)'s performance during the current Iranian calendar year.

The official, who is also the managing-director of NIOPDC, said the company boosted distribution of euro-4 petrol and gasoil in major cities of the country.

"Supply of clean fuels will boost from 8 cities to 20 major cities in the next Iranian year," Kazemi said.

For the first time in Iran, NIOPDC managed to secure sustainable export of petroleum products during the current year and boosted gasoline production to at least 60 million liters per day, he said.

Iran also managed to export gasoil and liquefied gas that was processed by Iranian refineries during the current year.

Furthermore, the company launched the isomerization unit of Isfahan refinery in September with the production capacity of 7 million liters of euro-4 gasoline per day. The capacity allows Isfahan to supply the fuel for nearby cities as well as Shiraz and Ahvaz.

The NIOPDC chief further said a development project in Lavan Refinery will become operational by March 2016 and another project in Bandar Abbas Refinery will come online by spring with the production capacity of 3 ml/d of gasoline of which nearly half will be supplied with euro-4 standards.

By SHANA