April 2017 and the refineries of four other phases have just been inaugurated. Zangeneh said, in total the refineries of 15 phases have so far been inaugurated. The minister said SP14, which is equivalent to two standard phases, would become operational by 2020.Less Liquid Fuel Supply to Power PlantsZangeneh touched on the role of South Pars development in the reduction of liquid fuel supply to power plants.He said: “The power plants’ share of liquid fuel was down from 43% in 2013 to 10% in 2018. Due to sustainable gas production, even with increased gas consumption since 2017 gas supply to industries has not been restricted.”“Nowhere in Iran have we received any report of pressure fall-off. In addition to supplying gas to power plants, industries and petrochemicals firms, we have set a fresh record in exports,” the minister said.Zangeneh also referred to the continued reduction of gas supply to flares in the SP1-SP5 refineries and said new equipment for gas flare gathering was purchased after Iran struck the 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers, which lifted sanctions on Tehran.“That has allowed us to launch SRU systems for desulfurization and our major concern about environmental pollution is allayed,” he said.Zangeneh said owing to South Pars development, Iran extended gas pipes by 3,000 kilometers. “With the help of
hese pipelines and stations, we have managed to provide a stable and solid network for the country,” he added.The minister said: “Chief among significant events is establishment of downstream industrial plants through relying on South Pars. The most important of them are petrochemical plants.”18 Petchem Projects Come OnlineThe petroleum minister touched on the implementation of petrochemical projects and said: “Fifteen petrochemical projects with an investment of $5.6 billion and products valued at $5.2 billion came on-stream from 2013 to 2018 and 18 more petrochemical projects would become operational before the end of the current administration’s term.”Zangeneh named the inaugurated petrochemical projects as Ilam, Lorestan, Urmia, Mahabad, Shiraz, Takht Jamshid Pars, Karoun, Kavian, Morvarid, Entekhab, Kurdestan, Pardis (phase 3 of ammonia/urea), Marjan (methanol) and Damavand (utilities).The minister said that the Kaveh methanol plant, Phase 1 of the Bushehr Petrochemical Plant and Phase 2 of the Ilam Petrochemical Plant would come online this calendar year. Furthermore, the completion of Miandoab petrochemical plant, Middle East methanol alchemy, Lordegan chemical fertilizer, Masjid Soleyman, Bid Boland gas refinery, Ibn Sina Petrochemical Plant, Arta Energy and Gachsaran under the second administration of President Rouhani would bring about a major development in Iran’s petrochemical sector.Zangeneh said Iran’s petrochemical output stood at 31 million tonnes a year, which would grow to 52 million tonnes through commissioning new projects.“In this way we will witness a high rise in petrochemical production,” he said.Annual Petchem Output Target MetZangeneh said Iran’s petrochemical production capacity was 56 million tonnes in 2013, which reached 64 million tonnes in 2017 and would go up to 94 million tonnes in 2021.He added that Iran’s petrochemical production was valued at $18 billion in 2013, which rose to $25 billion in 2017 and would soar past $36 billion by 2021.The minister said ethane production would have overtaken ethane consumption by 2024. “We have to make arrangements for ethane exports. Of course, in the coming years ethane cracker units will come online to produce ethylene for domestic consumption,” he said.Gasoline Output Doubles Zangeneh went on to underscore a two-fold increase in gasoline production under the Rouhani administration. “In 2012, gasoline production stood at 52 ml/d, which has now reached 101 ml/d. We will simply reach 105 ml/d, which is indicative of two-fold increase in the country’s gasoline production,” he said.Zangeneh said Iran, which did not supply any Euro-grade gasoline in 2012, supplied 76 ml/d of Euro-grade gasoline in the last calendar year to March 2018.“Gasoil production in Iran has increased 12%, coming from 94 ml/d in 2012 to 105 ml/d in 2018. Furthermore, Euro-grade gasoil production has Zangeneh said Iran’spetrochemical productioncapacity was 56 million tonnesin 2013, which reached 64million tonnes in 2017 andwould go up to 94 milliontonnes in 2021Fifteen petrochemical projects with an investment of $5.6 billion and products valued at $5.2 billion came on-stream from 2013 to 2018 and 18 more petrochemical projects would become operational before the end of the current administration’s term