11.02.2025 14:03
The President of the Petroleum Products Employers' Union, İmran Okumuş, emphasized that the unfounded claims regarding the National Vehicle Identification System (UTTS) are not about cost discussions, but rather a struggle for profit. He stated that the system will pave the way for transformation in the fuel sector.
The President of the Petroleum Products Employers' Union (PÜİS), İmran Okumuş, emphasized that the recent smear campaign against the National Vehicle Identification System (UTTS) is based entirely on imaginary claims, stating, "What we are experiencing here is not a cost discussion, but actually a struggle for rent."
IT COVERS 8 MILLION VEHICLES
The President of the Petroleum Products Employers' Union (PÜİS), İmran Okumuş, made statements regarding the baseless claims recently raised about the National Vehicle Identification System (UTTS), which will bring about significant transformation in the fuel sector. Appearing on a private news channel, Okumuş stated that the UTTS aims to prevent the use of illegal fuel through automatic license plate recognition and vehicle identification at fuel stations, reduce tax loss, and create a more transparent inspection mechanism in the sector. He noted that the system covers 8 million vehicles that are commercial, meaning those whose fuel expenses are shown for tax deductions, out of the 29 million vehicles currently on the road in Turkey.
Pointing out that the installation of the system has been completed for more than 4 million of these 8 million vehicles, Okumuş stated that purchasing transactions have been completed and installations have begun in 11,300 of the 12,600 fuel stations, and that installation processes in over 2,000 stations will be completed within 6 weeks. Okumuş also added that they have created a fund as PÜİS to cover the transition costs to UTTS for small stations selling under 3,000 liters across Anatolia.
"THE DISCUSSION STARTED WHEN EXPORT PERMITS WERE LIFTED"
Okumuş emphasized that the baseless criticisms against the UTTS, which will prevent the future of the fuel sector from being stolen, come from circles that benefit from off-station fuel sales, which will be banned as of January 1, 2025. He stated that the new law prohibits bulk fuel taken to depots in places such as construction sites, quarries, and truck garages, saying, "Vehicles used at these points will also be included in the UTTS; otherwise, companies using these vehicles will not be able to show their fuel expenses as deductions and benefit from tax reductions. In short, there will be no point left to purchase unregistered fuel."
"ALL DOMESTIC AND NATIONAL"
İmran Okumuş firmly rejected the recent claims that 'UTTS is produced in Israel.' He emphasized that all chips and parts used in the system are produced in Turkey and that the software used was developed by Turkish engineers. Noting that the vehicle identification system has been used in the mentioned 8 million vehicles in Turkey for 27 years, Okumuş stated, "The parts of this system were sold by a single company, and its cost was 30 dollars. No one talked about this. The criticisms against UTTS are entirely the game of rent-seekers." Finally, Okumuş mentioned that PÜİS executives have been conducting informational meetings with fuel station owners across Turkey for weeks, explaining the benefits the system will provide to their sectors and to Turkey. - ISTANBUL