TEHRAN – Iran’s Oil Ministry plans to launch a “car-free day” initiative for managers and employees of the ministry and its subsidiaries in Tehran as part of efforts to promote fuel conservation and public transportation.
Sediqeh Khazaei, deputy minister for management development and human resources, said the initiative follows President Masoud Pezeshkian’s directive to use all available capacities to reduce fuel consumption, with government agencies taking the lead.
Because the Oil Ministry is responsible for supplying the country’s fuel, it was decided that, starting Saturday, Sept. 19, managers and employees of the ministry and its subsidiaries in Tehran will use public transportation to commute to work one day each week, Khazaei said.
Managers and employees who have access to ministry-provided vehicles will participate in the initiative on Saturdays, she added.
Khazaei said broader participation by government employees and the public could have a tangible impact on fuel savings while helping promote a culture of public transportation use.
She said a similar one-day car-free initiative will be introduced in other areas next week in coordination with the companies involved, with the exact timing to be announced later.
Calling on oil industry employees to join the initiative alongside other government workers, Khazaei said the industry’s human resources, given their key role in supplying the country’s fuel, can make a valuable contribution to energy conservation by taking the lead in the program.
She also stressed the need to assess the initiative’s performance and gather feedback, saying plans are being made to provide incentives for employees who submit suggestions and comments on the program.