Gasoline Self-Reliance
He highlighted Iran's self-sufficiency in gasoline production, saying: "We can realize our preplanned objectives. Soon, our planned self-sufficiency in gasoline supply will come true and we will witness a big step ahead in the country's progress."
He said that big steps needed to be taken in all sectors.
"In the transport sector we are mulling renovation and we will do so. In communications with the world, we will have Iran recognized as North-South and East-West corridor. Furthermore, we will bring into operation our largest ports," he added.
Rouhani also underlined the need for progress in all sectors including water, environment, electricity, urban and rural development, gas supply, electricity supply, water supply, as well as technological knowhow.
"We seek development, but sustainable development is a priority of the 11th administration in favor of industrial progress for all Iran," he said.
Rouhani also said that the issue of environment was another priority in his administration.
11 South Pars Development Phases
Zangeneh described April 16 as a historic, unique and unforgettable day in Iran, saying: "This is the biggest group of projects financed by this amount of investment throughout history of petroleum industry."
He said that the 11th administration had a tough road ahead in implementing its development projects.
"The height of anti-Iran sanctions covered two and a half years of the tenure of the 11th administration. Therefore, we were not facing a smooth road towards development," he added.
"Under such circumstances, 11 phases came online under the 11th administration and the gas production and refining capacity in South Pars has increased from 240 mcm/d in mid-1392 (September 2013) to 570 mcm/d now. A total of 21 phases of South Pars are producing gas," the minister said.
"It is easy to speak about a megaproject, but finalizing a megaproject is very difficult, because all sections of a megaproject need to be tested," he added.
Zangeneh said Iranian contractors involved in South Pars had been empowered.
"Petropars, (Oil Industries Engineering and Construction Company) OIEC as oil contractor, Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company, a qualified pipelaying fleet, a qualified offshore drilling fleet, increased capacity of rotary machine and gas network compressors are among other achievements of Ministry of Petroleum in Assaluyeh," he said.
Iran Development Jump
Zangeneh said all facilities and refineries that were inaugurated had been operated fully by Iranian engineers.
"The problem with the productivity of these projects is that costs are more than normal. This issue must be also fixed," he said.
Zangeneh said he had been involved in the South Pars projects since 1997, adding that all these projects in the South Pars zone had been built over 19 years.
He said these projects had potential to experience a development jump now that Iran's nuclear deal with six world powers-the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)-had been implemented.
Noting that the JCPOA was not merely an agreement, the minister said: "The JCPOA is a turning point in the history of social and political development in Iran and I offer my sincere gratitude to Dr Rouhani for policymaking and Dr Zarif as the executor of this policymaking within the framework of the JCPOA. I thank them for having taken us out of the bottleneck of sanctions and created the chance for development in Iran."
"In order to reach this objective (jump in development), instead of losing chances and spreading hatred we have to get united and in a friendly way reconstruct Iran," he said.
Bright Future
The Iranian minister of petroleum said development of South Pars gas field and reaching a balanced point in recovery from this