Planning for Investment in PSEEZ
Iraj Khorramdel, CEO of Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ), has announced the planned establishment of a trauma center in the near future.
“This calendar year, we are determined to attract investment in various industrial sectors,” he said.
“Thanks to the interactive approach between the petroleum industry in South Pars and senior officials in Bushehr Province, we would provide the best services to local communities,” he said.
He added: “This year we are determined to attract investment in various industrial sectors. Many domestic industries have shown inclination for investment in PSEEZ. Through investment in South Pars, we will see significant jump in job creation, production and national wealth generation.”
“We have prioritized construction and completion of a trauma center because it is a major need for people and industry in South Pars, which will start soon. Another healthcare measure would be to complete and equip Toheed Hospital in Jam city in partnership with National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) to engage medical specialists and subspecialists,” he added.
Khorramdel touched on planning for upgrading scientific and academic infrastructure in Bushehr Province, saying: “Feasibility for the establishment of a branch of the Petroleum University of Technology, setting up a technical college in Kangan, setting up an incubator in cooperation with the Office of Vice President for Scientific Affairs and planning to scientifically empower teachers are among measures whose arrangement is under way.”
Four New Plants to Boost Petchem Output
The production capacity of country’s petrochemical industries will be increased by 107,000 tonnes after launching four new petrochemical projects.
Upon $103 million worth of investment in petrochemical industry, country’s production capacity of petrochemicals will soar as much as 107,000 tonnes at large.
Chief Executive of Iranian Investment Petrochemical Group [IIPG] Rasoul Ashrafzadeh made the remarks and revealed the construction operation of four petrochemical projects with $103 million worth of investment.
Once these four giant petrochemical projects are launched, 107,000 tonnes would be added to the current production capacity of petrochemicals in the country, he added.
He pointed to budget allocation for the implementation of these projects and added, “These projects will be launched in less developed and disadvantaged areas in the country.”
Launching the aforementioned petrochemical projects would generate new employment opportunities as well, he emphasized.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ashrafzadeh pointed to these four petrochemical projects which include methyl amine in Sonqor, caustic soda flakes production plant in Mahshahr, crystal melamine production plant in Lordegan and poly-aluminum chloride production plant in Urmia.
NIDC Drilling Exploration Wells
National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) is proceeding with its plan to drill a total of 14 exploration wells, NIDC official Reza Mehdipour said.
Mehdipour said the drilling of a third exploration well had ended, while operation was beginning for a 9th onshore exploration well.
“The drilling of Well Arman-1 in Khuzestan Province started in November 2018 after installing Fath-32 drilling rig,” he added.
Mehdipour said the drilling projects were going on schedule owing to cooperation between NIDC and Directorate of Exploration of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).
“After drilling ended in Arman-1, the drilling rig was moved to a new location in Genaveh and the drilling of an exploration well started,” he added.
“Of a total 14 wells, 9 wells have been drilled. Two wells in Khuzestan Province and one well in Fars Province have been completed. The drilling of six other wells is under way in the provinces of Khuzestan, Bushehr and Kohguiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad by Fath 31, 32, 33, 40, 74 and 89 drilling rigs,” said Mehdipour.
“In implementing the 14 exploration wells, 32,300 meters of drilling has so far been recorded. Up to year-end, four more wells will be completed,” he said.
Mehdipour said a major achievement of these projects was the discovery of the giant Eram gas field in Fars Province after drilling Dang-1 exploration well by Fath-33 and the discovery of the second largest oil reservoir in Khuzestan Province, known as the Namavaran oil field.
Domestic Companies to Study ICOFC Fields
CEO of Iranian Central Oil Fields Company (ICOFC) Ramin Hatami said the company would assign feasibility studies on eight of its fields to domestic companies.
He said the decision was a strategic obligation in the development of oil and gas fields.
“Pursuant to notification by the Petroleum Ministry and Board of Directors of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) regarding the policy and strategy for development and maximum efficient recovery (MER) from oil and gas reservoirs, comprehensive studies on Tabnak, Shanol, Varavi, Aghar and Dalan gas fields as well as the Naftshahr, Sarvestan and Saadatabad oil fields will be assigned to domestic consulting engineering companies in five packages to determine reservoir properties, developing subsurface and surface models, predict the field performance, make calculations and present development plans and enhance recovery,” said Hatami.
“Studies for seven other oil and gas fields run by ICOFC have already been assigned to other companies and their results will be announced in coming months,” he said.
ICOFC runs 84 oil and gas fields in the 11 provinces of Ilam, Bushehr, Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari, Khorasan Razavi, Khuzestan, Fars, Qom, Kermanshah, Kohguiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad, Lorestan and Hormuzgan. So far 13 gas fields and 13 oil fields have become operational.
Petchem Output Capacity Up 35%
The head of National Petrochemical Company (NPC), Behzad Mohammadi, said Iran’s annual petrochemical production will increase 35% in the current Iranian calendar year (ends on March 20, 2021).
He said that the operation of 16 petrochemical projects in the current year will increase the production capacity of the petrochemical industry by 35%.
He pointed to the plan of enhancing the production capacity of propylene in the smartening process of the petrochemical industry and put the current production capacity of propylene in the country at more than 950,000 tonnes.
Presently, the country is facing a shortage of propylene and for this reason, planning has been made for increasing production capacity of propylene in petrochemical industry, he stated.
“We have targeted production of 12 strategic products from propylene in the current year, based on which the demand of downstream industries will be met,” he added.
The deputy oil minister further pointed out that 16 petrochemical projects, valued at over $11 billion, will be put into operation in the current year.
He called the current year as a prosperous and golden year for Iran’s petrochemical industry and added, “according to the scheduled program, a number of 16 petrochemical projects will be inaugurated by yearend but it is likely that three to four of these projects would be put into operation with delay due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.”
The official had previously said that making the petrochemical industry smart is the only way for a stable presence in the global markets.
Mohammadi reiterated, “In the petrochemical sector we should have a global view.”
He also emphasized moving in the way of attracting more investors to this industry.
The official further mentioned the production of petrochemical products in the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19) and said, “Last year was a successful year in terms of petrochemical production, there was no problem in this due, and the projected annual output was achieved.”
According to Mohammadi, the petrochemical industry is not like the oil industry and it is practically unsanctionable.
“For oil, the ways of selling and the costumers are specific and limited but that is not the case with petrochemicals. There are hundreds of holdings which are eager for buying our diverse petrochemical products”, the official has told "Tehran Times" reporter in a press conference on the sidelines of the 24th Iran International, Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition (Iran Oil Show 2019).
“However, we are holding meetings with our customers to explore various aspects of possible impacts of the U.S. sanctions on our trade", he adde