TEHRAN, Feb. 16 (Shana) � Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh said on Tuesday that the ministry supports production of cars with diesel-driven engines.

Speaking at the international conference on internal-combustion engines held by the Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI), he said substitution of low-carbon fuels have come under attention of transportation industry.

He welcomed increasing consumption of CNG by drivers in Iran and said that light cars use 25 percent of the 20 million cubic meters of gas burned per day in the transportation system.

The minister urged organizers of the conference to work on improving the quality of gas-based engines as well as petrol-based ones and said, �Gas is cheaper than petrol and gasoil in Iran. Therefore, it will more economical for us if cars use gas.�

Zangeneh suggested that a standing committee be established comprised by the ministry and industrialists to study production of gas-based and diesel engines.

�I hope that such a committee will be set up so that its advantages can contribute to fuel consumption, car industry, and the environment,� he added.

By SHANA