Dismay for tanker drivers
New fuel offloading rule at Bashmakh border causes delays
PENJWEN — A recent directive from the Bashmakh border directorate mandates that tanker drivers transporting fuel to Iran must wait until their tanks are emptied before returning, a change causing concern among drivers due to extended waiting periods, at times exceeding 10 days.
The requirement forces tanker drivers to return to the Kurdistan Region without their vehicles while the fuel offloading process is completed.
The regulation, resulting from an agreement between Iranian and Kurdistan Region authorities, has drawn criticism from drivers who now face significant disruptions to their daily lives, with each trip to Iran necessitating a stay of 12 to 15 days.
A document issued by the Bashmakh customs directorate to its deputy and various departments outlines the policy change affecting fuel tanker drivers.
The directive states that drivers who previously requested to return to the Kurdistan Region without their vehicles, citing lengthy delays, will no longer be supported in such returns without their trucks.
Under previous arrangements, drivers could return while their tanks were being emptied, with support from local depots.
However, under the new rule, drivers are only permitted to return without their vehicles in cases of funeral or illness, provided they provide evidence of extenuating circumstances.
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