IINS
Nov 14 - Iran plans to ration diesel supplies in a bid to curb rampant smuggling of the scarce fuel to neighbouring countries, its oil minister said on Wednesday.
Government-issued smart cards have controlled private Iranian motorists' use of heavily subsidised gasoline since December 2010 in a programme that has successfully dampened demand for fuel in a country where supplies are scarce.
Owners of heavy goods vehicles will also soon have their diesel rationed as well, Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi quoted as saying by Iranian oil ministry news service Shana, as Tehran tries to stem a surge in fuel smuggling across Iran's many borders.
"The government pays huge subsidies to the energy sector, which has led to the sinister phenomenon of smuggling of oil products," Qasemi said./-
