Domestic carmakers have been given a 15-day deadline to either improve the quality of their products or face heavy fines, in addition to facing the risk of closure. Announcing this, Ali Mohammad Shaeri, the deputy head of Department of Environment, told Iran Daily that the quality of all vehicles, ranging from heavy to semi-heavy vehicles, must be improved to become eligible for receiving Euro 4 standards. “We have issued a deadline to all automobile makers, warning them to raise the quality of their products in the given time. If they do not meet the required standards, their production lines will be stopped,” he said.
Noting that currently Iran produces about 20 million liters of Euro 4 fuel and 40 million liters of Euro 2 fuel, Shaeri said all vehicles plying in Iranian streets should use Euro 4 fuel to reduce air pollution. “The production of vehicles, which do not meet the Euro 4 standards by June 22 of this year, will be stopped,” he stressed. The official further said motorcycles must obtain Euro 2 standards within the next two years as well. “Currently, 30 percent of vehicles are produced on the basis of Euro 4 standards in Iran and an additional 60 percent have undergone preliminary tests for receiving Euro 4 standards,” he said, adding that the remaining vehicles have given the June 22 deadline.
Shaeri said almost all imported vehicles, including Megan, Suzuki, Teana and Tiba, observe Euro 4 standards and the Department of Environment, in collaboration with the Police, will halt the production of vehicles that do not meet Euro 4 standards. He warned that automobile factories, which do not observe the law, will have to pay large fines.
Shaeri said gas stations across Tehran have been urged to offer Euro 4 fuel by June 15. “The provinces of Alborz, Qom and Markazi will have special places for offering Euro 4 fuel to citizens by the end of this month (June 21),” he said, adding that Isfahan and Tabriz petrochemical companies will start Euro 4 fuel production by the end of summer. Shaeri said the Oil Ministry has no problem in terms of production capacity, though it may face problems related to fuel distribution. Pointing to a 30-percent decline in air pollution in Tehran due to the effective measures taken by the Department of Environment, Shaeri said the number of polluting industries has declined from 4,200 units last year to 650 units. He also said the prevention of microscopic dust particles, which threaten the health of citizens and destroys forests, will last for 10 years. Shaeri explained that the revival of wetlands can help reduce the amount of microscopic dust particles in the country.