Addressing a ceremony to official break the
ground for construction of a key petrochemical project in the southwestern city
of Andimeshk, the official said, "For the first time next year, we will supply
more feedstock than the petrochemical industry needs, and the plans which are
to come online within the next two years will lead to transformation in the
industry," the official said.
The petrochemical industry is on the verge of a
major boom at the height of the US sanctions, he said, adding at present, 30
million tons of products were being marketed which would reach 45 million tons
once under-construction projects come on-stream.
He further touched on the project in Andimeshk,
saying it would pave the way for creation of a hub in the region as hundreds of
downstream projects could be created afterwards.
There is an abundance of ethane and ethylene
production capacity in the country thanks to completion of several South Pars
phases over the past 6 years, which could be consumed by petrochemical plants.
Andimeshk Petrochemical Project will be completed
in a matter of 36 months and will be fed by ethylene that is produced at South
Pars gas field, the world’s largest natural gas field located in Persian Gulf
waters and shared with Qatar.
Ethxylates, glycol ether and ethanol-amine are to
be produced at the plant, and the items would be used as feedstock for hygiene
items, detergents, and additives in textile, cement, gas sweetening, refining
and petrochemical industries.
The facility is to be developed for production of
200,000 tons per year of items in Assaluyeh, southern Iran.