National Iranian Oil Refining Company defends methanol use in gasoline

The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company has addressed public concerns regarding the use of methanol in gasoline, stating that the practice complies with national standards. According to Iranian National Standard No. 22920, developed with input from automakers and environmental agencies, a maximum of 3% methanol by volume is permitted in gasoline.

As part of a recent pilot project conducted by Star Gulf Persian Oil Company, methanol was added at a concentration of less than 0.5% by volume. This amount represents approximately one-sixth of the legal limit. The company clarified that the primary objectives of this trial were to improve the combustion process, increase the octane rating, reduce emissions, and optimize fuel consumption, rather than to address fuel shortages.

Technical experts and research institutions, including the Petroleum Research Institute, have conducted laboratory and field studies to confirm the safety and efficacy of this mixture. Officials emphasized that gasoline quality must be evaluated based on a comprehensive set of 21 parameters—including density, vapor pressure, distillation range, and oxidation stability—rather than the presence of a single component. They maintained that the pilot project met all required quality specifications before being distributed to the network.