BRICS Potential for the Petroleum Industry

Ali Forouzandeh

Director General of Public Relations

One of the prioritized programs of the 13th administration is to interact with various nations notwithstanding unilateralism with any specific nation or region. In other words, Iran would not put all its eggs in a single basket when it comes to pursuing its national interests. The country has been always looking for win-win deals. On the one hand, it continues talks about the 2015 nuclear agreement while on the other, it has improved its ties with Saudi Arabia in addition to joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS.

Following the same policy line, the Ministry of Petroleum has concentrated its energy diplomacy on the same basis. As a result, agreements have been signed with Russia, China, Venezuela, and Oman over the past two years.

Some time ago, the five BRICS members – China, Russia, India, South Africa, and Brazil – invited the six nations of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Argentina to join their alliance, which would raise the number of the BRICs members from the current 5 to 11 by 2024.

Membership in the BRICS may boost Iran’s power of international haggling and its economic ties. Still, as BRICS members are leading energy consumers like China, India, and Brazil or energy producers like Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, Iran may see its share rise in the oil market.

A main stakeholder, Iran’s petroleum industry should look for short-term and mid-term solutions to make maximum benefit from such membership and finally draw a long-term roadmap.

SP11 Starts Gas Production

Phase 11 development of the massive offshore South Pars gas field faced numerous delays as foreign companies came in and pulled out under pressure from US sanctions. The deal for the SP11 development was initially signed in 2000, but gas recovery has just begun from this phase, i.e. 23 years later, mainly thanks to the efforts made by the 13th administration over the past 20 months.

Minister of Petroleum Javad Owji, addressing the 28 August inauguration of SP11, which was also attended by President Ebrahim Raeesi, said: “This phase came online by Iranian experts while foreign companies like [France’s] Total (the forerunner to TotalEnergies), [Royal Dutch] Shell and [China’s] CNPCI took no action in this phase over 20 years.”

He added that with the completion of all wells at SP11, it would yield 56 mcm/d of gas.

Iran is already recovering more than 700 mcm/d of gas from the South Pars field, which it shares with Qatar.

SP’s 75% Share

The jointly-owned South Pars field is one of the largest gas reservoirs in the world. Iran owns 30% of the entire reservoir. It started developing this field in the 1980s, chiefly after the imposed war ended. Iran’s petroleum industry was still under US embargo and Iran was not on equal footing with Qatar in developing this field. Iran has since invested $90 billion in this field, which currently supplies 75% of national gas consumption.

Iran divided South Pars into 24 development phases, which would finally produce 750 mcm/ of natural gas. South Pars phases have come online one after another over years, but the point is that US sanctions always stymied a quick development of the reservoir because foreign investors were reluctant to finance this project. However, US sanctions did not keep the Ministry of Petroleum from developing South Pars.

The SP11 project was the longest drawn-out phase in South Pars. The agreement for SP11 development was initially signed in 2000 between National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Total and Malaysia’s Petronas, but the latter pulled out for fear of US penalties.

“When the agreement was signed in 2000 for developing this field, the general impression was that foreign companies would develop this phase. Over these years, a variety of international firms like Shell, Total and CNPCI have signed agreements, the latest of which being in 2018 when all of them quit due to imposition of US sanctions on the Iranian petroleum industry. They failed to make good on their pledges to develop SP11,” said Owji.

NIOC agreed in 2017 with a Total-led consortium comprising CNPCI and Petropars to develop SP11. But as soon as the US re-imposed its sanctions in 2018, Total and then CNPCI pulled out.

“Development of SP11 was a key issue when the 13th administration took office because all offshore phases had been developed, except this one,” said Owji. “Furthermore, on the Qatari side, international companies are operating. Therefore, Iran had to start recovery from this phase as soon as possible, but in the absence of foreign companies.”

He said the wells drilled in SP11 were 4,000 meters deep, covering 4 gas layers with high gas potential.

Each standard phase of South Pars can potentially yield 28 mcm/d of gas. SP11 is expected to yield 56 mcm/d.

“As soon as the 13th administration took office, Iranian experts spent time on choosing the quickest way to bring SP11 into operation,” said Owji.

23-Year Jinx Broken

How did the 13th administration manage to break the 23-year-old jinx on the SP11 development? Minister Owji has the answer. “In SP12, there were three platforms, one of which with low yield. It was decided that Platform 12C be moved, which accelerated gas production from SP11,” he said.

Under the now-defunct 2017 deal with Total, Owji said, no platform had to be moved as a new one would be built. “If we were to build a new platform we would have to wait another four years,” he said.

Transferring the 3,200-tonne platform required special and sophisticated logistics. Therefore, the Oceanic vessel, which is designed to transport heavy offshore structures, was used.

“This ship had struck a long-term agreement with Russian gas companies but through diplomatic negotiations and owing to efforts made by Iran’s foreign minister and Iran’s ambassador to Russia, we managed to bring this vessel back into Iranian waters and benefit from its capacity in platform installation in SP11. Having moved this platform, gas recovery from SP11 was done 3-4 years earlier than planned, which saved us $800 million at this stage,” said Owji.

The minister noted that all work at SP11 was done by Iranian technicians, adding: “Currently gas production from this phase is equal to 7 mcm/d, which would reach 15 mcm/d before winter. Once fully developed, SP11 would produce 50 mcm/d of rich gas and 50 tb/d of gas condensate.”

The minister said the development of Phase 11 would prevent gas migration to Qatar as this phase is located on the maritime border between the two nations. Therefore, any further delay in gas recovery from SP11 would further make gas migrate to Qatar’s section of South Pars.

Setting off Gas Imbalance

High gas consumption in Iran and industrial dependence on this source of energy has made Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum face the gas imbalance challenge. This issue becomes more important in winter. But with the commissioning of SP11, the gas imbalance would be set off next winter.

Referring to gas imbalance, Owji said: “By the end of the 6th National Development Plan, it was decided that we reach 1.25 bcm/d gas production. That required some steps including completion of South Pars phases, including SP11, development of Kish and Belal fields as well as expansion of gas fields in central Iran. But that did not happen. Therefore, we could not reach 1.25 bcm/d output, which remained at 830-840 mcm/d, due to insufficient investment in previous periods.”

“That is why gas imbalance reached 230-240 mcm/d

in 2021 and particularly early 2022. However, we would remedy this imbalance by developing gas fields, completing South Pars development phases, and expanding Kish and Belal as well as independent gas fields in central Iran,” he added.

According to the minister, SP11 alone is able to supply gas demand in 4 to 5 provinces. This issue takes up added significance, particularly in winter.

Gas Compression

One of the key issues South Pars would face in coming years is gas pressure fall-off. At oil fields, gas compression is carried out by injecting water and gas. When it comes to gas fields, wellhead compressors are used.The Ministry of Petroleum had embarked on studies to boost pressure at South Pars wells. First, Total was expected to build compressor platforms in SP11, but after it pulled out, the Ministry of Petroleum decided to engage Iranian technicians and experts to handle the task.

Touching on gas compression at oil and gas wells, Owji said: “Basic and engineering studies for compression are about to be over. We’ve entered into talks with qualified local companies, which would team up to set up four hubs, each of which with three or four platforms, to start compression operations before the end of the current [calendar] year.”

According to the minister, Iranian engineers have already experienced gas compression at the onshore Naar field, but they lack any experience in offshore gas fields. Therefore, they are starting a new project.

The minister has given assurances that this big project would be accomplished by local contractors.

Owji said Iran is at the top of countries appearing on the US sanction list. “Today, we are self-sufficient in all sectors of the petroleum industry. That is why most nations subject to US sanctions have turned to Iran for boosting their refinery throughput, overhaul of their refineries, and even development of their fields.”

“Today, we are informing all countries with oil and gas reservoirs that Iran owns powerful technology in horizontal and vertical drilling, and building offshore structures and platforms thanks to its self-sufficiency in the upstream and downstream sectors,” said the minister. “Today, we don’t have even a single foreign expert in our petroleum industry and our experts are mainly involved in refining, field development, and technical and engineering services to foreign companies. Last [calendar] year, some 2.8 million items produced by local manufacturers were exported to Venezuela.”

Two-Year Endeavor

The SP11 development project involves the construction and operation of two wellhead platforms, each with a capacity of 1 bcf/d of sour gas recovery, drilling 24 wells at the two offshore A and B locations, laying about 140 km of 32-inch offshore pipelines and connection to the SP12 refinery among other operations.  

In a bid to accelerate the project, the first part of the development project was defined in two phases. The first one involved drilling and completing four wells, laying 15 km of 32-inch and 4.5-inch offshore pipelines stretching from 11B to 12C, moving the 3,200-tonne 12C platform from SP11 to SP11 and its installation. Some initiatives in this phase were totally new in Iran, including connecting a new subsea pipeline to the existing pipeline in 12C and moving the 12C platform, which were all carried out successfully.

Petropars started gas recovery from SP11 ten days earlier than the date promised to NIOC.

Currently, rich gas and gas condensate from Platform 11B is transmitted to the SP12 refinery. By drilling and completing the remaining wells, Platform 11B would gradually reach full production capacity.

It is noteworthy that building a new platform similar to the one installed at SP11 stands at about $250 million, but by moving a platform from 12C to 11B, the costs were slashed to $30 million, not to mention time-saving advantages.

Ali Naderan, director of SP11 development at South Pars, said: “Furthermore, using the existing pipeline in 12C, the costs projected for the construction of a similar 135 km pipeline would be more than $240 million, which has been reduced to $30 million. Therefore, we can say that overall, $400 million has been saved in the development of SP11.”

“In coincidence with the completion of remaining activities, drilling two wells is planned to be done at 11B before next March,” he said.

The second stage of SP11 development would include the designing, construction, and installation of the 11A jacket by Iran Marine Industrial Company (SADRA) as well as the design, construction, and installation of an offshore platform at 11A by Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Co (ISOICO).

Naderan said the second stage of SP11 development would involve dealing with the natural pressure fall-off from this reservoir. “Designing, constructing, and installing all these installations is the first ever experience in the country, which would be handled by petroleum industry experts in the country.”

He said the second stage would involve designing, building, and installing a compression platform for preserving gas production, building a residential platform, installing an offshore pipeline, and laying cables. He added that Petropars was putting out this project to tender.

BRICS Membership Boosts Iran’s Bargaining Power 

The BRICS group of nations recently decided to invite six countries - Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates - to become new members of the bloc. The debate over expanding the BRICS bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, topped the agenda at a three-day summit held recently in Johannesburg. One may wonder how China and Russia have been instrumental in this decision. Mohammad Sadeq Jokar, the head of the Institute for International Energy Studies (IIES), tells “Iran Petroleum” that Iran’s BRICS membership would chiefly bolster Iran’s international haggling power. The following is the full text of the interview:

How have the international order and shift in paradigms by various countries affected the expansion of such groups as BRICs in the new century?

Since the very start of the current century, a new block-making trend has been underway in the world. Several countries, based on their political and economic conditions, were potentially able to become new powers in the world. Chief among them were China and Russia, who sought a multipolar world. In those years, President George Bush was pursuing certain approaches, but the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks further cleared the way for a unipolar world. Although the US was proceeding with a unipolar world, other nations were pursuing the democratization of economic bodies to render the world multipolar as they saw US unilateralism as a threat to the entire world. From the very beginning, the IIES was studying the matter very closely. BRICS was specifically significant for us because these five nations were on the way towards economic development with their share of the global economy rising. Therefore, for energy-rich Iran, it was important to focus on BRICS, four of whom are energy importers. After reviewing various aspects of BRICS in the early 2010s, the IIES put forward 4 scenarios about the future of this group – weakening, collapse, becoming a military block, and development into an economic bloc. The most important scenario was focused on the point that BRICS would become a more organized economic bloc that would develop within the framework of standardization. That is now proving to be true given the BRICS group’s decision to integrate six new members. BRICS member states assert they act in compliance with global norms, seeking no conflict and looking instead for establishing order and justice to end injustice in decision-making in international power-sharing and countering pressure and unilateralism. That has been the case over the past 10 years.

What advantages will Iran gain through BRIC’s membership?

Since taking office, the 13th administration has constantly focused on having no biased tendency towards East and West. While continuing nuclear talks to restore the JCPOA, it is in talks with China, Russia, and other nations considered as non-Western. The general approach adopted by the 13th administration is for Iran to diversify its trading partners. That can help Iran in its talks with foreign parties because they know that they would not be the sole option for Iran. However, in some historical periods, due to Western governments’ excessive demands, our main partners may be Eastern governments, but in general terms, Iran does not seek any confrontational approach towards either party. Iran’s interaction with the West in the past has shown that the more Iran can offer options the higher Iran’s bargaining power would be. Iran is seeking no conflict with either East or West; rather it intends to strengthen its levers to boost its power of bargaining on both sides. Iran believes that at the end of the day, East and West seek their interests. Iran could not reach its objectives without interaction with other nations and therefore it will cooperate with them within the framework of its national interests.

Can Iran’s BRICS membership also help its economic conditions in case sanctions are lifted?

Because BRICS’ top priority is to enhance economic ties, one instrument would be to develop a dollar-free financial system to de-dollarize financial transactions. Of course, it would take time before reaching an integrated financial system or common currency; however, some steps are taken in such a direction that could facilitate transactions. Given the fact that Iran is under US sanctions, which restrict its financial transactions, BRICS membership would enable Iran to join in transactions with its national currency. The key point is that China, the UAE, and Brazil are Iran’s key trading partners.

What opportunities can Iran gain in the energy market through BRICS membership?

BRICS members are either major energy consumers like China, India, and Brazil or are top energy producers like Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The countries that have already been BRICS members and the new ones will suffer from energy transition and this issue is highly significant for Iran, which is a top oil and gas

producer in the world. Energy consumers feel that if the energy transition becomes a binding regime to require all nations to cap carbon emissions they could not catch up with the pace of the transition and they would suffer. Fossil fuels are still a key element of the fuel mix of India and China and these countries cannot quickly shift to renewable energies. Meantime, on the supplier side, if the share of production and export of fossil energies drops in the global energy mix, they would lose their export revenue which drives their economy. Therefore, in a bid to minimize losses from the transition from fossil fuels to renewables, BRICS can have internal cooperation. Another point with energy is that the US has slapped restrictions and bans on cutting-edge technologies, mainly those used for alternative energies like hydrogen and helium. Therefore, BRICS members, none of whom allied with the US, can cooperate for the development of technologies.

What should Iran do to make maximum profits from this opportunity in the global energy market?

We need to make efforts to avoid repeating our past mistakes. In the past, when a relief like the JCPOA occurred, economic bodies could not follow its economic achievement and a political and security opening did not turn into an economic relief. There are many cases in point. For instance, former foreign minister Javad Zarif told MPs that the JCPOA had created a relief that was not efficiently utilized by economic bodies. International relief may not last long, but if joint economic interests are developed between nations, even in the absence of political relief, economic cooperation would not allow any conflict. Nonetheless, economic bodies in Iran are very slow in planning and they cannot go ahead in keeping with relief. We also created a geopolitical opportunity under the former administration when Qatar was boycotted by several countries and faced the risk of regime change. Iran was among the countries to offer geopolitical relief to Qatar. Alas, economic bodies in Iran did not properly benefit from it. The JCPOA was in effect for two years and many economic bodies could benefit from it, but in practice, they were entangled in bureaucratic red tape. Therefore, if we intend to benefit from this change, we should resolve such problems. Everything has to be mutual. For instance, if Iran and Saudi Arabia are broadening their ties they should specify economic cooperation. Of course, to increase interaction with BRICS member states we need to know the atmosphere quite well, distance ourselves from idealism, and adopt a realistic approach towards expanding economic ties. We also need to take a creative look at BRICS’ potential and shun pessimism.

What political and economic opportunities would be introduced to Iran?

Overall it could be argued that Iran’s BRICS membership can be instrumental with regards to transactions, transfer of technology, and market share. I mean that a hybrid network would be created for energy exchanges, which would then expand to the economic sector. However, the most important opportunity is the non-energy sector as Iran’s membership of BRICS or any other international body would bolster its political haggling power, in which case the country would have a higher chance of improving its cooperation even without the JCPOA and always have the upper hand in talks. In the short term, Iran can benefit from BRICS membership to increase its oil market share without using dollar transactions and have access to its income. BRIC is developing regimes that would allow Iran to use its national currency in transactions and accelerate its trade. That would be more significant than an increased market share for Iran. BRICS is expected to facilitate the development of cooperation as an alternative body without stoking up conflicts. Another point about BRICS membership is that the processes and procedures of member states should show maximum cooperation with the entire body. Therefore, expansion of the business atmosphere and facilitation in these fields and the similarity of rules and regulations would be largely helpful. Iran’s BRICS membership would add to Iran’s weight in the political, economic, and social future of the world. The 13th administration is moving properly on this path. Other sectors should draw up plans to benefit from this opportunity.

BRICS Historic Summit

Fereydoun Barkeshli

Energy Market Analyst

The successful conclusion of the 15th BRICS Summit of the Heads of States held on 22-24 August 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa will be recorded as a turning, as it was a historic event wherein gigantic steps were taken and invited six new members: Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia and Argentina to join BRICS on 1 January 2024.

Sixty-four countries attended the summit, of which thirty-four were represented at President, Vice President, and Prime Minister level. Other invitees were represented by senior officials from their respective countries all from the Global South. Countries of Asia and Africa met for the first time in history in Ban-dung, Indonesia Conference of the Heads of State in 1955. Ban-dung hosted twenty-five newly independent countries that made history. The countries just out of the yoke of colonialism met and pledged to make joint efforts to foster peace and solidarity. Those countries were then referred to as underdeveloped economies.

Now back to the basics in Johannesburg, the inclusion of six new members into the BRICS is historic and timely. The formation of BRICS was first discussed in 2001 and then officially formed in 2009 and consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa applied and lobbied and ultimately joined the club in 2010. As such, BRICS did not add any new members for thirteen years. The isolationist policy of the BRICS was so expansive that it could have even lost most of its relevance, had it not invited new countries to join it.

BRICS Attractive to Global South

I am not going to jump into the issue of Global South at this moment. However, I would like to emphasize that the countries of the South are the prime objects of US hegemony through sanctions and weaponization of the US dollar. Right now one-third of the world population is under American sanctions and citizens of these countries suffer because of US arrogance. This is the main reason why so many countries have lined up for membership in BRICS. Countries of the South have lost their faith and trust in Western-led international organizations to support them and they’re in search of alternatives.

The heads of the states summit of Johannesburg made history in that, it was centered around putting an end to the reliance of the developing countries on the US dollar. This move against a certain currency can be traced back to sanctions. Twenty countries are on the cue to join BRICS with a common concern, i.e. the possibilities of sanctions and freezing of dollar-nominated assets. This includes countries having friendly relations with the United States of America.

If and once all or most of the countries willing to join the BRICS succeed, they will eventually go from the current 32 percent of global GDP to making up 45 percent more than the G7, which comprises just over 30 percent, based on the World Bank 2022 report. The new alliance based on the new concept of BRICS will help and support countries that are willing and struggling to develop in the New World Order. This world order is designed to be a Club of Equals. This constitutes the major attraction for the newcomers in BRICS.

To be even more precise, BRICS has created an international public forum for dissatisfaction with the West and the United States of America in particular. But it has yet to become an institutional force for alternative economic and security order. There are already voices in Europe that are curious and inquiring about various aspects of joining the BRICS. The other day, the Italian Prime Minister criticized France for exploiting Africa and not Africa of the past century but Africa of today. EU tried to ignore what the Italian Prime Minister said; however, one should not be quite surprised if Italy faced some sort of US boycott.

Middle East and BRICS

Strikingly, Iran’s inclusion in the BRICS is a major win both for the alliance, as well as Iran. The country has been under severe sanction regimes ever imposed on any country since the Second World War except Cuba. Iran holds the world’s third-largest crude oil reserves and second-largest natural gas reserves. The inclusion of Iran is a substantial economic and geopolitical development.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE joining is likewise extremely significant. The United States used to rely on the Persian Gulf States to exert control over the global oil markets. With their accession to the BRICS, it seems likely that America has lost any control it had over oil prices and supply supervision for the last several decades. America was marginalized in the Persian Gulf even before the BRICS involvement in the region.

In the West, these developments have been met with bemusement. There has been lots of trumpeting about weak Chinese economic growth numbers and faltering Russian currency but both pale in comparison to half the global economy going its way. There has been almost no discussion on Iran’s reemergence on the world stage, or the loss of control over global oil markets via the Persian Gulf States.

One hypothetical option for the Western governments is to try to pull India out of the orbit of the BRICS countries and integrate it into the G7-relabeled G8. The idea seems to rest on the assumption that China and India are not friendly towards one another and have border disputes.

However, this notion does not work. Looking at India’s top five trading partners, America is at the top, followed by BRICS members and a further two will be incorporated next year: China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. Total trade with the United States was around $118 billion in 2022, but trade with other countries was around $274 billion- more than double the amount.

Foreign policy strategists can focus all they envisage right on border disputes and regional tensions, but if history teaches us anything it is that trade and economic relations tend to be more important than either. We need to find a way out to live in this emerging world of the Global South. The Persian Gulf and the Middle Eastern countries are a proper fit for this emerging

world. Egypt and Ethiopia have long been in dispute over the River Nile waters and have fought for years. Now in the new global order, they will have to find ways to sort out problems. Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are the pillars of the energy geopolitical triangle of the new global order.

New Development Bank

The New Shanghai-based Development Bank is already working on ways and means to rescue the international economy from the US dollar dominance. In the 14 years since it was created, BRICS’s only major achievement has been the establishment of the New Development Bank commonly referred to as the BRICS Bank. Bangladesh, Egypt, and the UAE are among its shareholders along with the BRICS members. This multilateral development bank has around $50 billion available, and it has approved loans of nearly $30 billion since it was launched in 2014.

Continuous escalation of US sanctions became a uniting factor for BRICS and one of the main reasons for the expansion. The plan accelerated after Western sanctions on Russia following the war in Ukraine. Of course, adding Iran makes even more sense as it has been hit by sanctions for the longest period in BRICS. In fact, at this point of time, the symbolism associated with the initiative is more important than the actual implementation.

It is yet premature to expect any spontaneous economic reward for newly joining members but the principal outcome is that none of the BRICS members has joined in any US-sponsored anti-Iran or anti-Russia axis. Nevertheless, in addition, BRICS has openly vowed the end of dollarization. Global South is extremely dissatisfied with the dollar hegemony. There have been attempts to move away from the US dollar in recent years. In 2022, some 58 percent of global exchange reserves is in the US dollar while the US dollar as a reserve exchange currency stood at 82 percent twenty years ago. Nevertheless, more than 88 percent of international transactions are in the US dollar. United States has created several roadblocks to all non-dollar international transactions one of which is the SWIFT system.

Russia, China, and Brazil have turned to non-dollar currencies for cross-border transactions and tried to shift currency reserves from the dollar into gold. BRICS Bank has been instrumental in facilitating the shift away from the dollar.

With Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iran now joining BRICS from the beginning of next year, as large and powerful energy producers in the Middle East, the bloc’s upgraded economic clout will improve and upgrade the potential for deploying an alternative currency and/or mechanism to bypass the US dollar.

Dollar in Trouble

As mentioned earlier, BRICS has been trying to put an end to the dominance of the dollar, not really as a currency but as a hegemonic institution. BRICS has no technical problem with the dollar, but the weaponized dollar or any other currency is not acceptable for the world economy. All the world’s major currencies had an era. The British Sterling pound was the longest-in-circulation currency. It survived for some 250 years. French Franc, Gilder, or Pesos had their era. A currency is not there to last forever, but once fully weaponized, even US allies feel the threat.

Tehran, Riyadh, or any other capitals of new invitees to the BRICS will look forward to a better future by engaging with the bloc. Given the fact that The United States has employed its currency as the instrument of exertion of pressure, no nation wants to risk its future with the dollar. The reason why the European Union designed and introduced Euro was to safeguard its ultimate interests against the US. However, the problem is not just with the dollar as a currency but the mechanism and the infrastructure that has gone into the system. Having said that, the most important task before the bloc is to construct and erect infrastructures that will substitute Swift, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank as the pillars of dollar hegemony.

Back in the late 1990s and 2000, Washington aimed to dominate and use the World Trade Organization (WTO) to further foster its influence and hegemony on global trade and business. The US wasn’t successful in its approach due to the rapid rise in Chinese international trade and commerce, the accession of Russia to WTO as well as European Union’s dissatisfaction with the US interfering in Europe’s trade with Africa. As such the United States turned into an opponent of WTO.

BRICS and the Way Forward

It is noteworthy that the original BRICS members, as well as the newly invited members, have divergent foreign policy objectives. Members of the bloc do not necessarily have coherent policies. This is most notable when it comes to India and China. The two countries are among the founding nations of BRICS but they have divergent views on the international stage. Some thirty countries have lined up to join the BRICS. Among them, Argentina will have a presidential election in a few weeks that is highly contested and may even lead to the withdrawal of the country from the membership contest. Other countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka are undecided and are under severe pressure by the US to withdraw their request to join the block.

In Africa, there have been seven changes of government during the last year. Some members and candidates in line are in favor of politicizing the Club, others prefer an economic and trade block for the time being. As for Chinese policies, there isn’t going to be a rapid or major divergence when it comes to the bilateral relationship between countries and Beijing. China will adhere to the same policies that have been carried out for the last two decades.

It is interesting to note that the BRICS has no Secretariat or not even a Website. Of course, the New Development Bank is based in Shanghai. South Africa’s President inaugurated a university department at Johannesburg University dedicated to BRICS studies on 28 August. This is a very good step. I think that Tehran can be a substitute location for the BRICS Secretariat as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is located in Tehran, too.

Two major energy-consuming countries: China and India plus three major energy producers of the Persian Gulf are now members of the BRICS. This is the most important energy bloc for a couple of decades. Iran is committed to strengthening the bloc.

NIOEC Rivaling Foreigners in Venezuela Refinery Renovation

National Iranian Oil Engineering and Construction Company (NIOEC) is tasked with operating infrastructure projects in the downstream oil sector including refining, storage, transport, and distribution of crude oil and petroleum products in Iran. With more than seven decades of work in infrastructure refining, NIOEC has developed special potential in handling such projects, rendering Iran independent of foreign companies.

Thanks to its expertise, NIOEC is currently operating major national refining projects as well as renovating Venezuela’s El Palito refinery. NIOEC has overcome rivals in Venezuela’s refining sector. Farhad Ahmadi, the CEO of NIOEC, has said that NIOEC is the only company endowed with international finance. Thanks to its certificates and experience, he said, NIOEC is rivaling many foreign companies.

1,000 Iranian Firms Involved

NIOEC’s ability to operate refining and oil pipeline projects has empowered it to handle overseas projects. In May 2022, a high-ranking Iranian delegation visited Venezuela, signing agreements for the overhaul of the El Palito refinery.

“In this project, many documents of various units of this refinery had been modified over years, which were all regulated. Some systems that had been modified were revamped,” said Ahmadi.

He said a Venezuelan delegation visited Tehran, demanding that NIOEC repair the refinery for an instantaneous glitch.

“To that end, 1,900 items of equipment, not included in the overhaul and renovation contract, were supplied to the refinery. They were all necessary and were supplied by September 2022. Without these items, the refinery would be put out of service,” he added.

Ahmadi said it took time to supply so many items to the refinery, adding: “Over 3-4 months, representatives from the El Palito refinery visited Iranian plants and industries to get familiar with various Iranian industries. Locally manufactured equipment was introduced to them to ensure themabout the capability of Iranian industry.”

“More than 2 million items of equipment would be provided to this refinery. Talks have been held with 1,800 Iranian companies, 1,000 of which are already involved in this project,” he added.

Ahmadi said: “Iranian brands are now active in Venezuela, which would be providing logistics in the future.”

He said that a good market has been created for Iranian companies in Venezuela.

1,800 Tonnes Iranian Commodities

Ahmadi said 1,800 tonnes of Iranian commodities had been delivered to the El Palito refinery, which would reach 4,000-5,000 tonnes in 3 to 4 months.

He said that 55% of necessary commodities had been delivered, with the rest on the way towards the destination.

Ahmadi said due to some modifications in the refinery overhaul by the client, some new items would be also provided.

The El Palito refinery may treat 140 tb/d of oil, he said, adding the facility was currently running at 70 tb/d capacity.

“We are ready for the overhaul of the refinery. We are waiting for the client’s green light. Some changes in the management of the refinery changed our plans,” he said.

“Many foreign companies were bidding for the refining project in Venezuela, but we overcame them,” said Ahmadi.

Iranian Engineers Win Praise

Iranian engineers were praised for supplying equipment for the reparation of the FCC unit. Iranian engineers had no plan to repair this unit, but they did so upon request by the Venezuelan party.

The FCC unit is used for gasoline production at a refinery. An Iranian company has manufactured a compressor for this refinery. The compressor was designed by an NIOEC technical team.

This compressor’s input is LPG and liquids. It can be used at Iranian refineries, too. The advantage of this compressor is that it has allayed flare gas concerns.

The future is bright for Iranian engineers to be present in Latin American refining projects.

Ahmadi said that NIOEC had held fruitful talks with three other refineries in Latin America for prospective cooperation.

Kaboud Five Wells Operational

CEO of National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC) AlirezaDaneshi has said five wells have become operational in the Kaboud oil field.

“The Kaboud oil field, with two Bangestan and Asmari reservoirs, was among less-developed fields. Six wells have been drilled in this field, hiring a local contractor and using local equipment. Five wells are now operational,” he said.

Daneshi said IRR 7 trillion had been invested in developing the Kaboud oil field, adding: “The oil in both Bangestan and Asmari reservoirs is high-quality and light. It is more valued than other areas.”

For the first time, he said, flare gas gathering was auctioned off by NISOC. “From now on, we need to make planning for associated petroleum gas gathering in the Kaboud field,” he added.

According to Daneshi, 99.5% of the equipment used in this project was locally manufactured. “During the first six months in office of the 13th administration, we prepared ourselves for big changes, and by setting new records we became ready to return to pre-sanctions condition,” he said.

Daneshi said flare gas gathering was a top priority of the 13th administration, adding: “Nearly 80% of flare gas is being gathered. Furthermore, across NISOC covering five provinces, 20% of gas is flared.”

Shiraz Gasoline Project 94% Complete

CEO of Shiraz Oil Refining Company (SORC) Hamid Reza Dehqan has announced that a gasoline quality upgrade project at this refinery has had 94% progress.

“This project will come online within two months,” he said while addressing a ceremony to sign an MOU between SORC and ExirNovinFarayand Asia Co (ENFA Co), aimed at boosting the quality of fuel oil.

“More than €30 million has been invested in this project,” said Dehqan. “The gasoil quality upgrade project at this refinery, with €180 million investment, is more than 72% complete now, which we hope would come online by 2024.”

He said that the Shiraz oil refinery was supplying 33% of Far Province’s petroleum product needs.

“Overall, €350 million has been invested in development projects at this refinery, which we hope would soon come online,” he added.

“At this refinery, over 3,500 parts have been locally manufactured, indicating the capacity of domestic knowledge-based companies and we support these companies,” he said. “The Isomax unit reactor, catalyst for processing units, and 5BB pumps are among locally manufactured equipment at the Shiraz oil refinery.”

He expressed hope that desulfurization from fuel oil would go ahead in partnership with ENFA.

Iran, Chinese Consortium Sign Petchem MOU

Iran signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese consortium on providing technical know-how and implementing a project of Fanavaran Petro Olefin Company.

A trilateral MOU on providing technical know-how and implementing a project of Iran’s Fanavaran Petro Olefin Company is inked by NavidShahidinia, acting head of Fanavaran Petro Olefin Company, an affiliate of Fanavaran Petrochemical Company, and a Chinese consortium in the presence of Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) Managing Director MortezaShahmirzaei in Tehran.

The signing of the memorandum with the affiliated companies of the Tamin Petroleum & Petrochemical Investment Company (TAPPICO) marks the start of promoting prospective cooperation between Iran’s petrochemical sector and Chinese companies.

Hossein Rafiqdoust, a Board member of Fanavaran, said the project in question included four methanol, olefin, and HD and PP units.

He said that $2 billion would be invested in this project by foreign financiers to operate the project on 45 of land.

Neighboring and like-minded countries have the opportunity to cooperate with Iran for investing, developing technologies, and transferring technical know-how, Shahmirzaei continued.

Touching upon the long history of the two countries’ cooperation, the NPC CEO expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government and companies for defying some countries’ unilateralism.

Ilam Gas Refinery Ethan Output Up 62%

CEO of the Ilam gas refinery RuhollahNourian has said ethane production at the refinery has increased 62% over two years.

“Natural gas production has increased 12% over the same period,” he said.

He added that the increase in methane production was due to the sustained supply of feedstock to the Ilam Petrochemical Plant.

Nourian said the Ilam refinery had experienced 37% growth in LPG production and 6% growth in sulfur production.

Mohammad Mehdi Hashemi, CEO of Fajr Jam Gas Refinery, said 10 projects had been implemented over the past two years to ensure sustainability in production by the refinery, adding that more than 41 bcm of gas had been refined.

He said a key project implemented under the 13th administration was a 20-inch gas pipeline in Assaluyeh, adding: “In January 2021, we faced a 35 mcm/d ceiling in the gas receipt from South Pars, but we made arrangements to be able to receive more than that.”

Hashemi also said that more than 41 bcm of gas had been desalted and fed into the national trunkline over the past two years.

“Over the past two years nearly 6 million tonnes of gas condensate has been produced at the Fajr Jam refinery and delivered to Siraf for export,” he said.

KOGPC Oil Output Up 35%

CEO of Karoon Oil & Gas Production Co. (KOGPC) Hassan Shahrouei has said the company’s crude oil production has jumped 35% over six months to 900 tb/d.

“The crude oil production capacity in this company is more than 1 mb/d. Over the past six months, it has grown 35% to 900 kb/d,” he said.

Shahrouei said: “KOGPC is tasked with steering 33 oil, gas, and LPG processing plants and about 700 wells around Ahvaz as far away as the Mansouri production center near the Shadegan oil field.”

He said about half of KOGPC’s oil production is fed into the Abadan and Tehran oil refineries with the rest being destined for export. He added that KOPGC delivers 40 kb/d of gas liquids to petrochemical plants.

“Achieving this level of oil and gas production has required support and necessary arrangements. As far as overhaul of installations and equipment, reparation of pipelines, and purchase of commodities and equipment, we have grown 40% year-on-year. That has resulted in enhanced production,” he said, citing support fromthe National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC).

Shahrouei said about 98% of flare gas was being captured, with only 2% of associated gas still being flared.

Iran Ready to Launch 5 Petchem Processes Overseas

Iran is fully ready to implement petrochemical projects and launch petrochemical complexes in friendly countries that are willing to collaborate with the Islamic Republic, an official with the National Petrochemical Company (NPC) said.

According to Ahmad Shokri, the director of projects at NPC, considering the negotiations conducted with neighboring countries and in line with the 13th administration’s policy of development of international relations, the NPC is fully ready to implement various complexes in five major petrochemical fields from zero to 100 including technical knowledge to operation.

Emphasizing that the most important project management activity of NPC is currently related to the follow-up of the issues and challenges of the ongoing domestic petrochemical projects to accelerate their completion, Shokri said: “About 100 petrochemical projects have been defined in the seventh and eighth National Development Plans.”

“Based on the planning, the capacity of the petrochemical industry will reach 200 million tonnes annually by the end of the eighth development plan, and reaching this capacity will require $90 billion of investment, of which $36 billion will be attracted under the framework of the seventh development plan, and 30 percent of this figure has been supplied so far,” the official said.

Pointing out that 58 projects of the mentioned 100 projects are currently underway with average progress of about 31%, Shokri: “In these projects, from basic products to the value chain and final products will be produced.”

He further pointed to NPC’s emphasis on completing the value chain and balanced development of the petrochemical industry and stated: “In order to increase the progress of these projects, we need the cooperation of related institutions and organizations, banks and National Development Fund of Iran (NDFI) for financing.”

Regarding necessary infrastructure for petrochemical projects for export, sale, and storage, he said: “Simultaneously with increasing the petrochemical industry capacity, infrastructural development of export ports is underway.”

“By implementing development projects, the capacity of the Assaluyeh export jetty will increase from 20 to 42 million tonnes a year,” said Shokri.

The official said NPC had focused on the supply of domestically manufactured commodities and equipment, adding: “About $10 billion has been spent on petrochemical projects’ equipment and commodities over the past two years. More than 80% of commodities, worth about $8 billion, has been sourced domestically while the rest, mainly first-time manufactured, has been imported.”

“The Gachsaran, Dey Arya Polymer Khomeini, Pars Glycol, Phase 1 of Persian Gulf Hoveyzeh Gas Refinery, Phase 2 of ASU of Damavand Energy Assaluyeh, gas and LPG pre-compression and nine green tanks of Assaluyeh are among projects to have come online under the 13th administration,” he said.

27 Petchem Firms Supply Iran Pharmaceutical Needs

CEO of National Petrochemical Company (NPC) MortezaShahmirzaei has said that 27 petrochemical companies in Iran are providing raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry.

“The Ministry of Petroleum and NPC intend to supply the needs of other industries, particularly the petrochemical industry. In collaboration with scientific and research centers, good measures have been undertaken,” he said, adding that medical and pharmaceutical independence was a national strategy.

“Today, the bulk of non-oil exports is handled by petrochemical companies. Given the growing demand for petrochemicals in the world, Iran’s petrochemical industry is rapidly diversifying its production mix towards development,” he said.

Shahmirzaei said the petrochemical industry was taking steps towards completing the value chain, adding: “If all raw materials are converted to final products, in addition to supplying domestic needs, we will increase exports to earn the country hard currency.”

He underscored the significance of infrastructure in the pharmaceutical supply chain as an index of health, adding: “Access to raw materials is a relative advantage of our country in manufacturing chemicals needed in various industries, including the pharmaceutical industry.”

“The raw materials of pharmaceuticals are supplied by petrochemical, biotechnology, herbal and human products sectors,” he said.

“Methanol, acetic acid, sodium hydroxide, toluene, and ammonia constitute the five basic products to be used in the pharmaceutical industry. All of them are produced and supplied by petrochemical companies,” he added.

13 Onshore Wells Spudded

Mohammad Amin Aqajari, director of exploration wells drilling at National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC), has said 13 onshore wells have been completed within the framework of three agreements with the Directorate of Exploration of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

He said three more wells were in the final stages of drilling, adding: “Based on the Directorate of Exploration’s agreements with NIDC, drilling 16 exploration wells has been assigned to NIDC. Since 2018, 13 wells have been completed and delivered to the client.”

Touching on the difference between drilling exploration wells and development and workover wells, he said: “The objective behind drilling exploration wells is to complete data to ascertain the discovery of an oil or gas reservoir following geological studies. That explains why high-risk exploration drilling requires more precision and takes more time than other kinds of well drilling.”

Aqajari said: “Within the framework of the first agreement for eight wells, seven wells were drilled in the provinces of Fars, Khuzestan and Bushehr.” He added that a well drilling in Fars Province led to the discovery of the Eram gas field.

He added that drilling 6 wells started in 2020, three of which is already over. They were drilled in Khuzestan, Golestan, Ardebil and Fars provinces. Two wells are being drilled in Fars and Ardebil.

Aqajari said drilling in areas run by National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC) in Khuzestan Province added to proof of existence of the Namavaran oil field, which is among giant reservoirs.

“In the third agreement struck between NIDC and NIOC Directorate of Exploration, 6 exploration wells are forecast to be drilled. Four have been delivered to the client,” he said.

Butane Recovery Project Operational

A fully-Iranian ethane recovery project has come on stream at the second refinery of the South Pars Gas Complex (SPGC) in the shortest possible time, which would earn Iran $100 million in revenue.

Ahmad Bahoush, the CEO of SPGC, said: “In the initial design of the second refinery of SPGC, no prediction had been made for the separate recovery of propane and butane, and the petrochemical industry was not fed with the entire butane supplied by this refinery.”

“Due to insistence by the chief coordinator of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) on optimization of production and quantitative and qualitative enhancement of condensate and gas products’ recovery at gas refineries, engineers at the second refinery of SPGC managed to deliver the entire butane produced at this refinery to petrochemical plants,” he added.

“Before this, the main approach in these projects was to hire foreign consultants, but this achievement was made thanks to gas industry managers’ reliance on the knowledge and capacity of Iranian engineers and specialists,” said Bahoush.

Hossein Baghban, the director of the second refinery of SPGC, said: “According to the initial planning, the project was expected to come online in two years, but thanks to our colleagues’ efforts at the refinery, the timeframe was reduced to one year.”

Referring to the advantages of this project for Iran, he said: “In addition to the material achievements of this project, like preventing the annual loss of 168,000 tonnes of butane and earning the country $100 million in annual revenue, it would boost the spirit of self-reliance among Iranian engineers and experts.”

SP11 Products Set to Be Worth $5bn

CEO of Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) Mohammad Hossein Motejalli has said Phase 11 of the giant offshore South Pars gas field would earn Iran $5 billion.

He said the preservation of production at SP11 would be handled by the logistics division in order to secure the field’s output at 705 mcm/d.

Motejalli said SP11 was developed with delay due to international conditions as foreign companies struck deals before pulling out over the past 20 years.

He noted that under the 13th administration, the project came online by Iranian experts and thanks to local manufacturers.

“Development of SP11 began in 2000 and finally Iranian company Petropars was engaged in 2020 and now we are seeing the result of trust in domestic companies,” he said.

Motejalli said the development of SP11 was started in October 2021 by the Ministry of Petroleum. A year after, he said, a drilling rig was moved to the site, and Platform 12C was moved to 11B in July this year.

“Platform 12C was located in the easternmost part of South Pars. Due to pressure fall-off in this platform, National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) decided to move it and therefore early production of 7.5 mcm/d began from SP11 in August, which would soon reach 10 mcm/d,” he said.

“The three packages of work in the second platform of SP11 are going well and the two platforms would produce up to 56 mcm/d of gas. The total investment in this phase is estimated at $4 billion. By installing the first platform and relying on domestic potential, $800 million has been saved in this phase,” he added.

Iran Oil Output Capacity Up 40%

Minister of Petroleum JavadOwji has said that investment in incomplete projects has boosted national oil production capacity by 40% over the past two years.

“Ever since the 13th administration took office, increased investment in the petroleum industry projects has been a key issue in the Ministry of Petroleum,” he said.

“The day I started my work at the Ministry of Petroleum, the crude oil production capacity stood at 2.2 mb/d, but today this figure is varying between 3.1 and 3.4 mb/d,” he added.

Owji said incomplete projects like SP14 and SP11 were prioritized in the gas sector, adding: “For instance, the SP11 development was changing and for 20 years. [France’s] Total was the last foreign company to agree to develop it under a $4.8 billion agreement. Unfortunately, necessary guarantees were not taken from this foreign company which came and studied South Pars and then left.”

Thanks to the investment, gas production during the first five months of the current calendar year has increased 40 mcm/d year-on-year, said the minister, adding that the SP14 refinery commissioning added more than 50 mcm/d to the gas processing capacity.

Owji touched on the 7-10 mcm/d production from the SP11 platform, saying: “This production will reach 15 mcm/d before winter and will hit 50 mcm/d as the number of wells increases.”

“That is while Iran is under toughest ever sanctions and our rival on the other side of South Pars is producing without any restrictions,” he added.

Separately, after a meeting with Burkinabe Foreign Minister Olivia RagnaghnewendeRouamba in Tehran, Owji said: “Under the 13th administration, Iran has held fruitful talks with some African nations, one of which is Burkina Faso.”

He said that Iran has agreed to build a refinery in Burkina Faso and export refined petroleum products to this African nation.

“Both sides enjoy good potential, and talks were held about export of petroleum products as well as technical and engineering services,” he added.

New Products at Iran Petchem Mix

Iran has faced tough US sanctions since 2018 when the Trump administration scuppered the 2015 nuclear agreement signed between Iran and six world powers. However, official data show Iran’s petrochemical industry could not be sanctioned. Ever since the 13th administration took office two years ago, Iran has focused on expanding its ties with neighboring countries and has doubled its petrochemical exports. Hossein Ali-Morad, director of international affairs at National Petrochemical Company (NPC), tells “Iran Petroleum” that Iran’s petrochemical exports rose from 20 million tonnes in 2020 to 70 million tonnes in 2022. He said Iran had diversified its international mix of petrochemicals.

The following is the full text of “Iran Petroleum’s” interview with Ali-Morad:

What international policy has NPC pursued under the 13th administration?

The 13th administration’s policy consists of broadening strategic ties with regional (neighboring), as well as aligned nations at international forums. As far as international affairs are concerned, we have tried to move in line with government strategies in developing international relations. Given recent developments, including the war in Ukraine, Iran got closer to Eastern countries like Russia to further pursue its national interests and make maximum benefit from international circumstances. For instance, due to the disruption in the food security chain, including urea fertilizer supply, and increased natural gas prices, we were flooded with high demand for urea fertilizer from Europe, Africa, and Asia. Iran was already expanding its ties with China as the former administration had signed a 25-year pact with China, which is of strategic importance.

How has the 13th administration’s energy diplomacy influenced your international cooperation?

Before answering your question, I would like to note that the results of negotiations and initiatives in the international arena, particularly energy diplomacy, would take time to come to fruition. However, over the past two years, our neighbors got to know our national strategy and policy, which were accepted by them. Although after the US pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), some nations warming up to Iran, neighboring and aligned nations are not afraid of sanctions. We also push ahead with our talks with them in the petrochemical sector. Official data confirms our success in this diplomacy. For instance, after a Petroleum Ministry delegation visited a regional country in 2022, our petrochemical exports rose from 20 million tonnes in 2020 to 70 million tonnes, or registering a 2.5-fold growth. Another case in point is signing an agreement with Russian firms, as a result of which Iranian-made catalysts, developed by Petrochemical Research and Technology Company (PRTC), were delivered to the Russians. The delivery of these catalysts has persuaded other countries in the region to use this product developed by Iranian know-how.

So international interactions in the petrochemical sector have been on par with the petroleum industry.

Absolutely. For instance, technical know-how in the oil and gas sector is limited, but the diversity of technical savvy in the petrochemical industry is diverse and abundant due to the complexity of processes and variety of products. Therefore, petrochemical industry researchers and manufacturers face a wider space for international interactions. We have tried to go along with the petroleum industry and even outperform it.

What do you think of the dominant trend in Iran’s petrochemical market?

Iran’s petrochemical industry is unsanctionable and will continue its production and export growth. Thanks to efforts made by those involved in the petrochemical industry, petrochemical exports have increased in parallel with enhanced output. Never have we faced a situation to not export petrochemicals while production has been underway. Therefore, one of the key issues followed up on by NPC is to use untapped potential for increasing production to increase exports while launching new projects. One of our objectives in the international sector is to expand our mix in order to reduce risk and not fall into the trap of buyer monopoly. I would like to say that our international petrochemical mix has increased and we are happy with its homogenous expansion. Plenty of companies are willing to buy Iranian petrochemical

products. Hopefully, the 13th administration is making efforts to use these capacities for developing the petrochemical industry and I hope that the private sector would go ahead in parallel with the 13th administration so that our international standing would be strengthened. Apart from that, we are exporting catalysts and we are looking for good commercial partners to export Iranian technical know-how.

What measures have been taken to increase the number of buyers of Iranian petrochemicals?

To that end, we’ve benefited from the assistance of the Office of the Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs. We have also made the best use of strategies which we have arranged with them to add to our buyers of petrochemical products. For instance, the petrochemical industry is focused on market development in neighboring and aligned nations because they need Iran’s petrochemical products and accept the risk of dealing with Iran. For instance, food security is not something to play with, politically. Therefore, they would have to buy urea fertilizer from Iran for their food security and agricultural stability. The number of buyers of Iranian petrochemicals has increased. On 24 May, we held a friendly talk with Iranian ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions at the NPC office. It was announced in clear terms that Iran’s petrochemical industry is bracing for diversity and we are interested in expanding our mix. Not only the number of customers but also the number of countries buying from Iran is on the rise.

Would the significant petrochemical growth in a country like Saudi Arabia not affect Iran’s markets?

Certainly we see such actors as Saudi Arabia and Qatar as rivals, but in some cases we see them as our peers. NPC is seeking to establish ties with Saudi Arabia in order to have SABIC as our future partner.

What have you done to attract investors?

NPC has introduced opportunities to qualified domestic holdings for foreign investment. One case in point has been partnerships in developing the petrochemical industry of aligned nations. Currently, building petrochemical plants overseas or even restoring them is on our agenda. We’re also planning to supply feedstock to them.

What did you focus on during talks with Venezuelan delegates?

In the aftermath of the recent talks with the visiting Venezuelan delegation, the Ministry of Petroleum and NPC experts are assessing needs based on domestic capabilities in order to make necessary arrangements for cooperation. Venezuela’s three petrochemical plants have a total capacity of 12 million tonnes, but only 4 million tonnes of which are currently active. One plan is to revive these plants. An Iranian private contractor has already started work and needs government support. We hope that this company will receive the necessary support so as to reach results within six months. Negotiations have been held for a wide spectrum of services ranging from technical and engineering services to supplying qualified manpower or overhaul, pre-commissioning, and commissioning as they don’t have even qualified experts.

Do foreign companies eye Iran’s upstream or downstream petrochemical sector?

Normally, they focus on the upstream sector as no development has taken place in the country in the upstream sector, while Iran has already reached maturity in this sector and has developed technical know-how. However, Iran’s petrochemical sector is also seeking partnerships in the downstream sector in order to develop necessary technologies for the value chain, in which case we would complete the value chain in the country while helping aligned nations.

What are your plans for foreign partnership in acquiring technical know-how for the downstream sector?

Such cooperation may primarily take place by purchasing technical know-how, after which technological cooperation and technical savvy development would take place.

Overseas Refineries to Guarantee Oil Export

Iran, since two years ago,hasadopted new refining projects worth about €16.5 billion ($18 billion). Chief among them is a new 300 tb/d petro-refinery worth $11.5 billion, the Khuzestan refinery estimated at $4.5 billion, and the second phase development of the Abadan refinery worth €1.7 billion. A variety of methods, including finance, banking resources, and private equity, has been used for funding the petro-refinery named after Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

In coincidence with increasing investment in refining projects, Iran has envisioned overseas projects over the past two years. One option for Iran has been to provide technical and engineering services to oil projects in Latin American nations, which have been abandoned by the US and European companies. To that effect, during Minister of Petroleum Javad Owji’s visit to Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, agreements were signed with them.

That was how Iran realized its longtime dream of engagement in overseas refineries by providing technical and engineering services. Venezuela’s refining sector is suffering from chronic dilapidation due to sanctions, and local companies have not been able to upgrade the refineries. In 2020, Venezuela’s nominal refining capacity stood at 1.3 mb/d for refined products’ output of 123 tb/d. Venezuela is subject to US sanctions, like Iran, and therefore cooperation between Tehran and Caracas would let them share experience and blunt the impact of the US sanctions.

Iranian oil can be blended with other grades of oil at these refineries. Exporting petroleum products, gas condensate, and petrochemicals is also pursued. After receiving the required technical and engineering services, their refineries can return to their nominal capacity. Iran has required technicians and equipment for that purpose.

Using the idle capacity of overseas refineries is not limited to this. Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum is now ready to repair Venezuela’s largest oil refinery – Paraguaná Refinery Complex. It comprises three refineries, including the Cardon and the Amuay refineries in the Paraguana peninsula, and the Bajo Grande refinery in the Zulia state of Venezuela.Owned and operated by Venezuela’s state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the Paraguana refinery complex has a total crude processing capacity of 971tb/d.

PDVSA’s top official Daniel Muñoz recently visited Iran to attend a seminar. He said it was once a dream for his country to no longer depend on US refining capacity, but Iran’s technical assistance has now helped Venezuela realize its dream.

From Self-Sufficiency to Overseas Refining

Most development and infrastructure projects in the refining sector have been implemented by local experts. Minister Owji recently highlighted this issue at an OPEC seminar, saying: “Despite sanctions, Iranian petroleum industry staff are developing oil and gas fields from A to Z without foreign experts.”

The important point for the countries attending the OPEC seminar was that all of them knew these remarks were being made by a minister whose country is under tough sanctions. However, Iran’s petroleum industry has managed to build refineries overseas by relying on its own potential.

The 100-day-long construction of Venezuela’s largest refining complex to restore its crude oil distillation capacity and increase fuel production at the Paraguana refining center were among overseas refining projects launched by the 13th administration. Venezuelan media hope it would end the country’s dependence on US refining technology.

Venezuela sits atop the world’s largest crude oil reserves. Due to insufficient investment and US sanctions, Venezuela has faced fuel shortages, leading to long queues at fuel stations since 2020. However, owing to its ties with Iran, Venezuela has managed to bring its refining capacity to 1.3 mb/d.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeesi’s visit to Latin America put the seal of approval on the MOUs and agreements reached between Tehran and Caracas officials over the past 20 months in various oil, agriculture, industrial, and economic sectors. By traveling to Latin America, President Raeesi proved his administration’s firm will to develop ties overseas. Creating a market for the active

presence of private and semi-state-owned companies overseas and supporting them as well as increasing oil, condensate, and commodity and equipment supply are among the objectives sought by the Raeesi administration.

The Ministry of Petroleum’s performance over the past 20 months clearly shows the 13th administration is supporting the private oil sector for entry into international markets. The Ministry of Petroleum has removed obstacles in Latin America to empower private entities to get engaged in overseas activities.

International Projects

Iran’s petroleum industry has jumped at new chances to expand its international scope of activity. Signing an EPC agreement to renovate Venezuela’s Jose oil export terminal was the first of its kind by an Iranian company abroad. Equipping Venezuela’s gas transmission facilities with instruments by an Iranian knowledge-based company, as well as an Iranian private company’s agreement to boost the capacity of a petrochemical plant in Venezuela are all indicative of Iran’s petroleum industry becoming international.

Private companies in Iran are expected to benefit from these opportunities to expand their presence in Latin America and serve national interests.

Venezuela’s installed petrochemical capacity is 12 million tonnes, which has fallen to 4 million tonnes due to the exit of foreign experts. There is a chance for Iran to supply technical and engineering services to Venezuela to add 4 mt to its petrochemical capacity.

The first agreement for the overhaul of an ammonia production plant in Venezuela by Iranian companies has been struck. The plant had quit production due to US sanctions. But its recommissioning is expected to benefit the Iranian party investing there.

The most significant objective sought in oil sanctions against Iran has been to reduce the oil revenue of the country. Therefore, using the idle capacity of overseas refineries can help defeat Western sanctions.

It is noteworthy that imposing sanctions on petroleum products is difficult, and Iran’s engagement in overseas refineries can be a good start in sustainable product supply. Given global oil products’ prices, using the idle capacity of oil refineries abroad can boost Iran’s revenue. It has also to be taken into account that management of overseas refineries by local companies can be instrumental in oil exports, job creation, and hard currency generation.

More Projects

Iran is also planning to invest $4 billion in a 100 tb/d refinery in Nicaragua, which has been abandoned due to US sanctions. It also intends to upgrade two refineries in Uzbekistan, currently running at 50% capacity. Now, Iranian technical and engineering services and know-how would help complete these refineries, thereby giving a chance to overseas refining facilities.

Feasibility studies have been also done for the construction of a 140 tb/d refinery in Syria.

Overseas refineries would open a new chapter for foreign cooperation. Iran would renovate incomplete refineries by exporting technical and engineering services to them. In return, Iran would be a stakeholder in overseas refineries, which would provide it with a chance to process its crude oil.

87mn Barrels of Condensate Sold

US sanctions targeting Iran’s petroleum industry, which were re-imposed after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, caused hardships for Iran in selling oil and condensate. The sanctions were such tough that many analysts assumed Iran would never be able to sell its condensate. However, the interactive approach adopted by the 13th administration in terms of energy diplomacy helped the country sell the entire 87 million barrels of condensate that had remained stored in Iranian tankers in the Persian Gulf. Nobody imagined the Ministry of Petroleum would be able to reach such success as long as sanctions were effective. Now, two years after the 13th administration took office, there is no condensate stored on water.

Background

After the US reinstated oil sanctions in November 2018, Iran’s oil buyers, including South Korea, China, India, and Japan scaled back on their crude oil and condensate imports from Iran. Therefore, the then administration failed to sell its condensate. The former administration was buying tankers to store condensate on the water so that production from the massive South Pars gas field would not come to a halt. Some of these tankers remained on water for more than three years, which cost Iran $450 million per year. But despite the toughest-ever sanctions slapped on Iran’s petroleum industry, the country has sold out its condensate.

President Ebrahim Raeesi recently said selling the 87 million barrels of gas condensate floating in the Persian Gulf was a result of interaction with regional and other nations.

Referring to his administration’s energy diplomacy and selling oil, he said: “In the energy sector and oil sales, the country has great potential, but some former government officials said it was impossible to sell more than 300 tb/d of oil. But during the first months in office of the 13th administration, it became known that it would be possible to sell more than 1 mb/d. The 13th administration managed to do it, which injected IRR 4,800,000 billion into the national budget.”

Defeating the sanctions regime, generating hard currency, freeing up the tankers’ capacity, cutting costs, reducing safety risks caused by storage, preventing environmental consequences, and boosting national energy security are among the results of selling gas condensate parked on Persian Gulf waters. After the stored condensate was sold, 30 tankers, which incurred $450 million in maintenance costs in Iran, were freed up.  

Petroleum industry staff were actively looking for buyers to sell condensate while seeking avenues on how to bypass oil sanctions.

Iran is currently producing 800 to 854 tb/d of gas condensate. Even a single day of a halt to condensate export could cost Iran dearly.

Sanctions Blunted

Iran’s enhanced oil sales are aimed at defeating US sanctions. Sanctions expert Richard Nephew believes that externally applied economic pressure would lose its impact when target countries rely on their domestic resources because they would learn how to live with sanctions and also develop ways to overcome them. Apart from that, the third parties would become less reluctant to get along with sanctions. In his book The Art of Sanctions, Nephew notes that should punitive measures fail to lead to the desired result within a specific timeframe, their impacts would go away, in which case, the target countries would embrace resistance rather than fearing sanctions.

That is why Nephew and many other sanctions experts recommend that policymakers should not hesitate to produce tangible results from sanctions in any form whatsoever when sanctions have reached their most effective state.

In 2015, President Barack Obama, who was speaking about the Iran nuclear deal, said: “Moreover, our closest allies in Europe, or Asia - much less China or Russia - certainly are not going to agree to enforce existing sanctions for another 5, 10, 15 years according to the dictates of the US Congress.”

“If, as has also been suggested, we tried to maintain unilateral sanctions, deepen them up, we would be standing alone. We cannot dictate the foreign, economic, and energy policies of every major power in the world,” he said, adding: “To even try to do that, we would have to sanction, for example, some of the world’s largest banks.  We’d have to cut off countries like China from the American financial system.  And since they happen to be major purchasers of our goods, such actions could trigger severe disruptions in our economy and, by the way, raise questions internationally about the dollar’s role as the world’s reserve currency.”

A similar scenario happened under Donald Trump who claimed he had imposed toughest ever sanctions against Iran. In his final months in office, Trump’s National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien acknowledged that “no sanctions” had remained to be imposed on Iran. This acknowledgment in October 2020 was followed by the first signs of the ineffectiveness of US sanctions against Iranian oil. The US newspaper Wall Street Journal reported in December of that year that Iran had managed to double its oil exports by circumventing sanctions. 

US Treasury reports show that despite sanctions, Iran’s oil exports from May 2022 to June 2023 had quadrupled to 1.6 mb/d.

Iran’s main oil customers are currently China and Venezuela, as other Asian buyers like Japan and South Korea have complied with US sanctions.

No change has been in sight in the US maximum pressure policy against Iran. Allegations of the US ignoring oil sanctions are spread by certain government agencies to cover up the failure of the oil embargo against Iran and Tehran’s success in defeating US sanctions.

Petrobras Updates Presalt Brazil Growth Plans

Petrobras has marked 15 years of production from the presalt offshore Brazil this month by confirming plans to deploy 11 new production platforms in presalt fields by 2027.

Since last December, the company has started up the P-71 platform at the Itapu Field and the FPSO Almirante Barroso on the Búzios Field in the Santos Basin, and the company plans to start operating a third FPSO, Sepetiba, on the Mero Field by the end of this year.

Petrobrás’ Strategic Plan for 2023 to 2027 allocated $64 billion for E&P investments with 67% to be directed at presalt projects.

Eni Starts Baleine Oil and Gas Production

Eni has started production of oil and gas from the Baleine Field offshore Côte d’Ivoire.

Eni says this milestone comes less than two years after the discovery in September 2021 and less than a year and a half after the final investment decision. This marks the first emissions-free Scope 1 and 2 production project in Africa.

Baleine stands as the largest hydrocarbon discovery in the Ivorian sedimentary basin. Eni says the fast time-to-market was made possible through the company's phased development approach characteristic of recent projects, along with partner Petroci's full collaboration.

Norway Set for Return to Peak Production

Investments in Norway's oil and gas industry could surge to a record NOK225 billion ($21 billion) this year, according to Rystad Energy.

Various major offshore projects have secured approval in recent years, in part incentivized by the country’s temporary tax regime, introduced in 2020.

Following a decline of almost 15% in production across the Norwegian Continental Shelf, from a peak of nearly 4.6 MMboe/d in 2004, oil and gas output is on the rise, potentially heading back toward peak levels by 2025 as new volumes come on stream.

Drilling Underway Offshore Peninsular Malaysia

The Velestojackup Naga-2 has started drilling the first of four wells on the East Belumut Field on the PM329 production sharing contract offshore Malaysia for Jadestone Energy.

These should deliver combined peak oil production of 2,000 bbl/d to 2,500 bbl/d.

Jadestone also announced that it expects to restart production at the Montara FPSO offshore northwest Australia Sept. 1 following an investigation and assurance review into a defect in the onboard 4S/5C.

Woodside, KEPCO Investigate Delivery of CO2 to Australia

Woodside Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) concerning studies for a potential carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain between Japan and Australia.

KEPCO would assess the capture of CO2 emitted from its thermal power plants and subsequent transportation to Australia, where Woodside is progressing with various CCS projects offshore and onshore.

Woodside will evaluate the potential injection and storage of CO2 delivered from Japan and the potential production of synthetic methane (e-methane).

Europe Energy Challenge

Shuaib Bahman

The destructive impacts and deep consequences of Russia’s war on Ukraine have been laid bare in the energy sector more than anywhere else. Although European nations successfully left behind a winter, they are once more on the brink of cold months. Not only should they think of supplying domestic energy demand, but also they have to overcome industrial challenges. Chief among the main challenges in the energy sector is energy transmission that can largely affect oil and gas companies and industries.

Despite extensive efforts made by Europe to take steps towards renewable energy generation and diversifying fossil energy sources, this continent is still faced with numerous challenges in this sector. First and foremost, Europe has failed thus far to find a reliable source to supplant for Russian oil and gas imports. Second, most companies and industries in Western nations have been established to run on fossil energies and failure to find a new source of supply would disturb their operation.

Not an Easy Task

The solution adopted by most European nations in this regard is based on shifting from fossil to renewable energies. But changing the source of energy would not be easy for most commercial and industrial companies as they would have to fundamentally change their infrastructure and make huge investment in renewables. That is while if these companies intend to go ahead in line with their state energy policy, they are likely to suffer significant economic losses. Therefore, many industrial companies maintain that taking steps in the direction of energy transition would undermine their competitive power in local and foreign markets, even pushing them towards bankruptcy.

In Germany-most powerful European economy- chambers of commerce and industry have announced that German firms were not in position to change their energy sources. Most German commercial and industrial companies believe that opting for new sources of energy would expose them to the threat of losing competitiveness rather than providing them with opportunities.

According to a poll, more than 3,500 companies surveyed by chambers of commerce in Germany, have said transition to renewables and distancing themselves away from Russian gas would leave severeadverse impacts on their commerce. Only 13% of the surveyed companies gave a positive assessment of such transition. The survey shows that in the energy-intensive sectors, 75% of companies give a negative assessment of energy transition. Undoubtedly, given the great significance of industrial entities for Germany as its commercial strength, these figures could be alarming.

Quitting Europe Soil 

Another cause of concern for the economy of European nations is the growing willingness of commercial and industrial companies topull out of Europe’s economy. For instance, in Germany, about one-third of industrial companies are willing to move their plants out of there or reduce their output. Such a trend can definitely spill over into other European countries, which would persuade more companies to quit Europe’s oil. That constitutes a worrying trend for the European economies and is likely to be followed by numerous challenges including economic inefficiency and a high rate of unemployment.

Economy aside, energy transition in the commercial and industrial sectors would have political implications, too; as the commercial sector’s confidence in Germany’s state energy policy has hit an all-time low. In fact, commercial and industrial enterprises imagine they are falling prey to the incorrect policy of Germany vis-à-vis the war in Ukraine.

Another important point associated with this matter is the stability of the energy supply. Many European companies are currently worried about insufficient energy supply even in mid-term, not to mention long-term, which can give rise to extensive instability in long-term policymaking and planning by commercial and industrial firms.

In order to safeguard commercial and industrial companies, European governments would need to minimize extra costs for energy access and create conditions to facilitate sustainable energy supply. Most commercial and industrial companies in Europe are not able to consider energy transition, nor do they deem it to be profitable for them to do so. That explains why the vision of commercial and industrial companies could affect the European governments’ position on Ukraine and change their interaction with Russia.

MIS Oil Discovery Witnesses

Leafing through the administrative files of the staff of the Abadan oil refinery would attract everyone’s attention to a name: Suleiman Adonias. A meticulous review of his file indicates that he was among the first employees of Anglo-Persian
Oil Company (AOPC). He was a contemporary of Dr. Young, Sir Arnold Wilson, and George Reynolds.

In a two-page letter addressed to AOPC, Suleiman Adonias has complained about his financial claims from the company. In the letter, he briefs about his self-styled “brilliant” track record.

According to the file contents and the letter, Adonias was born in the central city of Isfahan in 1881. He had studied at the Missionary Church of Isfahan before moving to Khuzestan to work with the Lynch Bros shipping company based in Shushtar. He was employed in 1904 by William Knox D’Arcy to start working under the direct authority of APOC’s chief geologist, Reynolds. He stayed in Shushtar up to 1913. Describing his time of stay in Shushtar, Adonias writes: “I was the only Christian living there with my wife and child. When Well No. 1 struck oil on 27 May 1908, it was me who telegrammed the news to Reynolds in London”. The text of the telegram was: “At 4 am, at the depth of 1,200 feet and height of 75 feet, oil gushed out.”

“Before the Imperial Bank of Persia opened a branch in Ahvaz, I managed financial affairs using 400,000 rials received from the company. Dr. Young and Sir Arnold Wilson witnessed all my endeavors and services during those hard times,” writes Adonias, who continues to claim that APOC owed him three months plus 10 days of unpaid salary. He reiterates his honest and faithful cooperation with APOC.

APOC 1st Doctor

Maurice (Moshe) Young was born on 17 July 1880 to a Jewish family in Ukraine. In 1900, he was admitted to the Medical Department of Glasgow University. He graduated in 1906. He briefly worked for Iran Railway Syndicate in 1903, in Lorestan and Bakhtiari. But he had to return to Scotland to continue his studies. After graduation, he was hired by APOC and won fame as the first medical doctor of the company. He was assigned the task of providing medical services to local people and treating APOC staff if they became ill. He quickly won the confidence of local people and Bakhtiari tribal chiefs. In 1911, he was praised as an influential person with APOC. Dr. Young founded APOC’s medical department and occupational medicine. During his service, he established a hospital in Masjed Soleyman and several small clinics in the region. Young was with APOC up to 1931. After retirement, he joined the Alexander Fleming research group at Saint Mary Hospital of London. During World War II (WWII), he was employed in the emergency ward of the Public Health Service in western London. He retired fully in 1949 and died a year later.

Talbot

Sir Arnold Talbot Wilson was born in Britain in 1884. Wilson (aka "A.T.") was tall and strong. He began his military career as an army officer on 19 August 1903, having been awarded the King's Medal and sword of honor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, being commissioned on the Unattached List for the British Indian Army. After he spent a year attached to the 1st battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment in India, he was appointed to the Bengal Lancers and posted to the 32nd Sikh Pioneers, on 18 December 1904. In 1904 he went to Iran as a lieutenant to lead a group of Bengal Lancers to guard the British consulate in Ahvaz and to protect the work of the D’Arcy Oil Company, which had obtained a sixty-year oil concession in Iran and was pursuing oil exploration in partnership with the Burmah Oil Company. In October 1939 after the outbreak of the war, he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, serving as an air gunner in 37 Squadron of RAF Bomber Command holding the rank of Pilot Officer. He stated, "I have no desire to shelter myself and live in safety behind the ramparts of the bodies of millions of our young men." Still an MP, he was killed in northern France, near Dunkirk, on 31 May 1940.

Globally Famous Geologist

George Bernard Reynolds was born on 5 April 1853, in Sussex, England. In 1873, he attended the Royal Indian Engineering College at Coopers Hill, Windsor- an institution known for training engineers for service in the Indian civil service. In 1895, he married Lavinia Jane Baker in England.Reynolds began his career in British India's Public Works Department, particularly in the State Railways, which were primarily coal-driven at the time. He served diligently in this capacity from 1875 to 1897, eventually attaining the positions of Executive Engineer and Certified Mine Manager. Following his retirement from the Indian civil service, he worked in Dutch oil wells in the East Indies (now Indonesia). In 1901, Reynolds was hired by D'Arcy to lead oil exploration efforts in Persia. In 1901, D'Arcy received a concession from the Qajar dynasty in Iran to explore oil in the country. Reynolds worked closely with D'Arcy and played a key role in the early years of APOC. A drilling team under Reynolds was sent to “ChiahSurkh” and drilling commenced at the end of 1902. He conducted important geological surveys in Iran, which helped identify oil-rich areas and his work was instrumental in the discovery and development of oil resources in Iran, which had a significant impact on the global oil industry. Reynolds then went to Venezuela in 1911 to work for Royal Dutch Shell. He also managed to discover oil there. He died there in 1925.

Oil Athletes Shine in Global Competitions

This summer was one of the most honored seasonsin the Iranian petroleum industry’s sport. Four athletes, affiliated with the petroleum industry, bagged medals in global competitions. QaemMirabian (diving), HashemiyehMotaqian (javelin throw), ErfanAnvari (grappling) and Ilya Salehipour (wrestling) have excelled over recent months.

Bronze for Grappling

ErfanAnvari is an employee of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).He recently represented Iran in the World Grappling Championship competitions and won the bronze medal. In the 84kg category of the Asian championship held in Kazakhstan, he bagged bronze. In an interview, he said: “I think about the global medal of this discipline and I will endeavor to win it. We should not forget that it is no personal honor, rather it is a national honor, and undoubtedly it would be a source of honor for the petroleum industry. At present, I’m planning to compete in next year’s Asian and global matches. I need support to succeed. In November, BJJ competitions are being held in the UAE and I’ll try my best to be able to compete there.”

3 Gold for Diver

QaemMirabian is the most golden among the four. He won three gold medals in the diving championship competitions. Mirabian, a National Iranian Oil Company employee, claimed a gold medal at the 2023 World Aquatics Masters Championships. He finished first with 401.95 points in the 40-44 age category of the Men Springboard 3m. German Markus Albrecht won the silver with 284.45 and the bronze medal went to Canadian Jonathan Asselin with 271.85. A total of 14 divers competed in the division. The 2023 World Aquatics Masters Championships are being held in Kyushu, Japan from Aug. 2 to 11.

Determined Woman

HashemiyehMotaqian is known to everyone. She has already won colorful medals in various disciplines including javelin throw. Motaqian, who hailed from Ahvaz, is with the National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC). She won the bronze medal for javelin throw in the Tokyo Paralympics matches. On the sixth day of the Paris23 World Championships, HashemiyehMotaghian picked up a bronze medal during the morning events of CharletyStadium on Thursday 13 July. Iranian 37-year-old Paralympic champion finishing third in her fifth attempt of the women's javelin throw F56 final, set a season’s best in 22.95m. Diana Krumina of Latvia, the bronze medalist in Tokyo, set a new world record with her 25.8-meter throw and took the lead. Brazilian Raissa Rocha also repeated her Paralympic runner-up title in the Paris World Championships, improving Tokyo's record with 23.05m. After winning two gold medals in Morocco’s Grand Prix in October 2022, she had said she would try to win a place in the Paris championship. “From now on, I’m thinking of the 2024 Paralympics in Paris and trying to promote my record. Next summer, I would go to France where I would try to win a place. Four months later, I would compete in the Asian championship. These two matches would be the best exercise for the championship in the 2024 Paris Paralympics.” Motaqian is now trying her best to win a second gold medal.

Three Bronze Medals

When it comes to finding talent in various cities, the petroleum industry family has always something to say about sports. Ilya Salehipour, whose family lives in Masjed Soleyman, got Iran off the mark in the boys’ junior event by grabbing triple silvers in the 81kg contests in the Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting Championship. He competed in the 140 kg category for snatch and the 173 kg category for clean-and-jerk. Ilya’s father is an employee of the National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC). Like every other Iranian athlete, Ilya dreams of winning gold in the Olympic matches.

Having won three bronze medals, he has already proven his determination and talent.