Trying to offset the effect of sanctions on the country’s nuclear program, Iran said Wednesday that it would increase domestic gasoline production by converting two petrochemical plants so they could produce gasoline by processing benzene. Iran is the world’s fifth-largest exporter of crude oil, but a lack of refining capacity forces it to import about 30 percent of its gasoline. The plan to increase production was announced by the oil minister, Masoud Mirkazemi, who predicted that Iran would become a net exporter of gasoline by 2015. Benzene, a product derived from natural gas, can be further processed to produce gasoline for use in cars and other vehicles. Experts said, however, that the product would burn poorly and contain more impurities than regular gasoline, causing damage to engines.

source: The New York Times