Zangeneh: We Forcefully Protect Oil Data
Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh has said security and intelligence organs are tasked with countering spies avoiding infiltration and protect the staff.
He said: “I will forcefully protect oil data.”
Zangeneh was reacting to allegations of infiltration of suspected spies into the Ministry of Petroleum.
“The responsibility of dealing with spies, blocking infiltrators, and safeguarding staff fully rests with security and intelligence organs and executive bodies have no counterespionage task. If there is any negligence anywhere, they (intelligence organs) should be held accountable,” he said.
Zangeneh said: “I have mentioned time and again that the petroleum industry is on the frontline of attacks and it must be safeguarded because the US is trying its best to damage the Iranian petroleum industry and such possibilities exist.”
The minister said few people had access to oil data, adding: “The petroleum industry and military forces are currently on the frontline of this war on the economic and operational sector.”
Asked how long it would take Iran to maximize its oil production in case sanctions are lifted, Zangeneh said: “It will not even last three days.”
Zangeneh also said that Iran “will continue” its oil exports despite growing trend of oil and gas production in the US.
The minister also said that Iran’s petrochemical sector would witness its second big jump by 2021.
“The petrochemical industry is mature because it supplies downstream products and has a chain. The petrochemical sector has seen a big jump in recent years,” he added.
Zangeneh said Iran’s petrochemical output had nearly doubled from 2013 and would cross 100 million tonnes. “We are making arrangements for a third jump in the petrochemical sector,” he added.
The minister said that Iran Plast, scheduled in September, would put on exhibit Iran’s petrochemical achievements.
He said: “Iran’s downstream petrochemical industry is buying $6 billion of feedstock a year. There is no other industry to supply such amount of feedstock to its downstream sector. This feedstock is converted into final products.”
Zangeneh said the petrochemical downstream capacity is much higher than thought, adding there must be a market for sales.
“This market is partly for exports and partly for domestic purposes. Since the domestic market needs economic growth, generation of wealth must trigger higher demand,” he added.
2-ICOFC Annual Output at 69bcm
The Iranian Central Oil Fields Company (ICOFC) has recorded a 69bcm gas output in a year, its CEO Ramin Hatami said.
“Over the past one year, ICOFC has produced 68.985 bcm of gas,” he said.
Hatami said that ICOFC was responsible for production from 51 gas fields, 28 oil fields and one oil/gas field. He added: “So far, 13 gas fields and 13 oil fields have been developed and are operational.”
Hatami said a number of projects were implemented last calendar year in order to guarantee sustainable energy supply.
He named them as enhanced production from the Saadatabad oil field, starting up a gas gathering center in Khangiran, power supply to the Danan field, selling flare gas in the Naftshahr and Sumar fields, signing three agreements for enhanced oil recovery and 4D seismic testing in the Tang-e Bijar, Delavaran, Babaghir and Bankoul oil fields.
Hatami highlighted the strategic role of ICOFC in oil and gas supply in Iran, saying: “Onshore gas production by ICOFC subsidiaries including East Oil and Gas Production Company will lead to sustainable gas supply in six northern and eastern provinces. There are also 6 joint oil fields in western Iran and we will try our best to make optimal use of them.”
Hatami said: “Alongside production as the main mission assigned to the company, we will have a special look at protecting the environment and public-interest activities within the framework of social responsibility.”