I'd read in that the new fuel taxes were done to help the poor by funding social programs. Apparently, though, the taxes were pretty stiff, raising the overall price 50%.
Under the new fuel measures, each motorist is allowed to buy 60 litres (13 gallons) of petrol a month at 15,000 rials ($0.13; £0.10) a litre. Each additional litre then costs 30,000 rials.
Previously, drivers were allowed up to 250 litres at 10,000 rials per litre, AP reports.
Reducing fossil fuel subsidies is absolutely the right thing to do. Air pollution from vehicles is very severe in Iran's cities, and imposes a huge health burden on the population.
Clean transport alternatives exist, and are becoming cheaper. But with fossil fuels being subsidised to the point that they are sold below their production cost in Iran, let alone their market value or true environmental cost, clean alternatives will always have trouble getting established.
It's just too bad the Iranian government feels the need to block discussion on the internet, rather than use it to get the message out.
In the UK, fuel tax raises the price of fuel by almost 80%. Some of that money is used to fund social programs and to good effect.
It’s curious to point out social programs in the context of Iran. I figure the complete economic strangulation imposed on it would be a more obvious cause.
(This submission is of an article from 4-5 days ago, around the same time as the other HN post, so it doesn't look like there's significant new info in this one.)
Apparently Iran is one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) countries when it comes to gasoline and utilities prices. Everything is subsidized in the country! They are lucky that their economy hasn't collapsed already considering it is a big country with 80m+ population.
And they have smuggling issues to neighboring countries for a long time.
> According to Iranian counter-smuggling authorities, 17 percent of daily fuel production equivalent to some 40 million liters (10.6 million US gallons) were being smuggled out of the country every day in 2009. This is while most of the smuggling concerns gasoline and diesel fuel, whereas Iran imports both of these to the tune of 30 million liters (7.9 million US gallons) every day. Smugglers are using "lakes of fuel", underground pipelines to neighboring countries and oil tankers.
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[ 2.8 ms ] story [ 33.8 ms ] threadWhat are the new measures?
Under the new fuel measures, each motorist is allowed to buy 60 litres (13 gallons) of petrol a month at 15,000 rials ($0.13; £0.10) a litre. Each additional litre then costs 30,000 rials.
Previously, drivers were allowed up to 250 litres at 10,000 rials per litre, AP reports.
Also, probably made harder since Iranians don't have access to a lot of fuel efficient vehicles due to trade barriers.
Clean transport alternatives exist, and are becoming cheaper. But with fossil fuels being subsidised to the point that they are sold below their production cost in Iran, let alone their market value or true environmental cost, clean alternatives will always have trouble getting established.
It's just too bad the Iranian government feels the need to block discussion on the internet, rather than use it to get the message out.
It’s curious to point out social programs in the context of Iran. I figure the complete economic strangulation imposed on it would be a more obvious cause.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21554459
(This submission is of an article from 4-5 days ago, around the same time as the other HN post, so it doesn't look like there's significant new info in this one.)
And they have smuggling issues to neighboring countries for a long time.
> According to Iranian counter-smuggling authorities, 17 percent of daily fuel production equivalent to some 40 million liters (10.6 million US gallons) were being smuggled out of the country every day in 2009. This is while most of the smuggling concerns gasoline and diesel fuel, whereas Iran imports both of these to the tune of 30 million liters (7.9 million US gallons) every day. Smugglers are using "lakes of fuel", underground pipelines to neighboring countries and oil tankers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Gasoline_Rationing_Plan_i...