Iran to make investment in new petchem hubs
Tehran, Aug 12, IRNA - Iran has decided to build more petrochemical plants in new petrochemical hubs in the next four years to produce more feedstock at the giant South Pars gas field in south of the country, a monthly affiliated to the Ministry of Petroleum reported.
According to the latest isssue of Iran Petroleum monthly, Iran is currently producing at least 60 million tons a year of petrochemical products, while more than 60 petrochemical projects remain incomplete envisaged in the previous five-year economic development plans. Once these projects come online, Iran's petrochemical production capacity will double.
The projects have been embarked by Iran's National Petrochemical Company (NPC) which is an important wing of the country's oil diplomacy.
Under the next administration of President Hassan Rouhani, Iranian petrochemical officials intend to produce more feedstock at the giant South Pars gas field as more petrochemical plants are to be built. The new plants are projected to be constructed in new petrochemical hubs.
Mahshahr is home to 21 petrochemical plants with a total capacity of 25.6 million tons a year and Assaluyeh is home to 13 petrochemical plants with an annual capacity of 24.3 million tons. They are Iran's main petrochemical hubs.
Since development of industrial hubs is a key factor in the industrial development of countries, and favorable and sustainable development of petrochemical industry in these hubs hinges upon preparing general and specialized infrastructure, the NPC is studying potential petrochemical hubs within the framework of its development plan with a view to proximity to sources of feedstock, water and facilities for exporting petrochemicals.
Among the areas under study for petrochemical projects are Special Petrochemical Zone in Mahshahr, Parsian Energy Industry Site, Lavan Island, Qeshm Island, Jask and Chabahar.
Marzieh Shahdaei, CEO of NPC, said Iran's petrochemical roadmap would require 36 new projects in the new hubs. These new projects would add 60 million tons to the country's petrochemical output capacity. That would be the third jump in Iran's petrochemical sector.