Baghdad Fuel Station Queues End After Direct-Entry System Launch

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Long vehicle queues at fuel stations across Baghdad have disappeared following the implementation of a new direct-entry distribution system, according to the Iraqi Oil Products Distribution Company. Company Director General Hussein Talib inspected multiple fuel stations in Baghdad early Tuesday to assess operations. The state-owned distributor said all stations now have adequate product supplies and that crowding has been completely eliminated. The Oil Ministry disputed earlier characterizations of a supply shortage, attributing the congestion instead to high demand and rising summer temperatures. Ministry spokesperson Suham Uzbun stated Tuesday that the country's gasoline crisis was artificial. Official production figures show Iraq refines approximately 31 million liters of gasoline daily, while consumption stands at around 32.5 million liters. The new system, which allows vehicles to enter stations directly without queuing, was introduced to address widespread complaints about long waits at fuel stations across the capital.