"Fuel Troubles in Iran"

"TEHRAN -- Iran's ambitious plan to flood the market with synthetic petrol has been marred by ecological concerns. Tehran says it is becoming self-sufficient in petrol, in the hope of warding off the pain of further economic sanctions. But the effort has many detractors inside Iran, who say the method chosen - making petrol out of chemicals rather than crude oil - is uneconomic and environmentally unfriendly.

For the last five months, Iranian government officials have been saying the country is no longer reliant on petrol imports thanks to a development program launched two years ago to increase production and thereby cushion the country against a possible international ban on fuel sales."

Kaveh Sarafraz reports for Environment News Service February 11, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"Protesters Fill Streets of Tehran by the Thousands" (Los Angeles Times)

"Iran Protests: Hundreds Of Thousands March, Tear Gas Fired" (AP/Huffington Post)

"Iran's Fuel Blockade Strains Relations With Afghanistan, Prompts Protests" (Washington Post)

"Iran to Supply Armenia with Gasoline, Diesel Oil" (Fars News Agency)

"Protesters Meet Resistance in Iran, Bahrain And Yemen" (Montreal Gazette)

"Clinton Backs Protesters in Iran, Praises Egypt's Military" (Indo-Asian News Service)