Refining Projects Come on-Stream
Iran Gasoil Output Hits President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated, on February 18, the third
phase of the Bandar Abbas Gas Condensate Refinery as well as a
gasoline/gasoil quality improvement plant at the Bandar Abbas Oil
President Rouhani said the startup of the Persian Gulf
Star refinery, as the largest condensate treatment
facility in the world, meant self-belief, self-reliance,
resisting the enemy, overpowering sanctions, selfconfidence
and self-sufficiency. Iran Petroleum refinery The Bandar Abbascondensate refinery isknown as the PersianGulf Star refinery, derivedfrom the name of the PersianGulf Star Oil Company thathas developed the treatmentfacility.
The startup of the thirdphase of the Persian Gulf Starrefinery would bring Euro-5
grade gasoline production to45 ml/d, accounting for 50% ofIran’s gasoline needs. The firstand the second phase of thePersian Gulf Star refinery were
launched in 2017 and 2018,respectively.The Bandar Abbas oil refinery
gasoline/gasoil projectwould from now onwards beproducing 12 ml/d of Euro-5
gasoline and 15 ml/d of Euro-4gasoil.Self-Sufficiency in GasolinePresident Rouhani said thestartup of the Persian GulfStar refinery, as the largest
condensate treatment facilityin the world, meant selfbelief,self-reliance, resisting
the enemy, overpoweringsanctions, self-confidence andself-sufficiency.
He boasted that his first andsecond administrations hadmade Iran self-sufficient in
gasoline, gasoil, gas, and wheatand sugar production.Rouhani pointed to the
intensification of US sanctionson Iran, which he compared toan economic war.
He said: “Economic war istougher than military war,because in an economic battle,oil selling arrangements,transport, customer attraction,financial transactions and manyother such things are not seen.”He added that during theimposed war (1980-1988), oilflow from the Kharg terminalwas halted for three weeks, but
“we made efforts to the extentthat we were exporting oilduring the war.”
Oil Refining CapacityZangeneh said Iran’s gasolineproduction had recorded a
historic jump over the past fiveyears.“In 2012, Iran’s gasoline
production capacity was 52ml/d,” he said. “In February2019, it nearly doubled to 101ml/d and will keep rising toexceed 105 ml/d by” the endof the current calendar year inlate March, he added.Zangeneh said the capacityof feedstock intake at oil
refineries was about 1.7 mb/d,which has now reached 2.1mb/d due to the startup of thethird phase of the Persian GulfStar refinery.He touched on US oil sanctions
on Iran, saying: “Unlike theprevious decades when Iran’sgasoline imports were targetedby sanctions, we are no longerimporting gasoline. Ratherwe have become exporter ofgasoline and the Americanscannot say anything on thisissue.”
Zangeneh said Iran was nowable to export gasoline. “Butsince we intend to increase ourstorage capacity we will notexport gasoline for the time
being.”Products Quality Upgraden the quality of petroleumproducts supplied by Iranianrefineries, the minister said: “In2012, we were not producing
Euro-grade gasoline, but todayRefinery. The projects, whose inauguration was attended by Iran’s
Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh, would bring Iran’s gasolineproduction to 105 ml/d, thereby putting an end to Iran’s gasoline
imports. Minister Zangeneh noted that Iran could now export gasoline,
but it is our preference to fill our storage tanks.