SHANA - Iran's petrol imports stood at 5.7 million liters per day in the first quarter of the current Iranian calendar year which began on March 21, a senior energy official said.

CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) Mohammad Reza Mousavikhah said the country, given its domestic consumption of petrol, would normally need to import 9 ml/d of petrol during spring, but, due to inauguration of new petrol production projects, imports fell dramatically.

"We are exerting every effort to minimize the country's petrol imports," said the official.

He said NIOPDC had no trouble in distributing petrol across the country, adding NIOPDC distributed 3.5 ml/d of premium petrol which may fluctuate from time to time.

Earlier this month, Iran launched the second phase of the Persian Gulf Star Refinery (Bandar Abbas Gas Condensate Refinery), adding 12 ml/d to the country's petrol production capacity. Developed in three phases, the facility is being developed for the daily supply of 36 ml/d of petrol.