Mohammad Reza Karimi told reporters at the Iran oil and gas
exhibition that the second unit would have a similar capacity and technology as
the first one, which produces 240,000 tonnes of PVC per year.
"We have finalised the memorandum of understanding for
the second phase of the PVC project and we are in the stage of selecting the
EPC contractor," he said.
He said the planned completion time for the project was 40
months, but they were trying to speed up the process due to the market demand.
Karimi stressed the need to increase PVC production in Iran,
saying that PVC had applications in 18 industries in the country and that if
they could not boost their output, they would become importers of PVC.
He also pointed to the potential for expanding PVC exports
in the Middle East, where there was a shortage of 1.2 million tonnes of PVC.
"With proper development policies, we can easily become
the sole exporter of this product in the Middle East," he said.
Arvand petrochemical company, located in Mahshahr in
southwest Iran, also produces caustic soda, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and
ethylene dichloride (EDC).
The 27th international oil, gas and petrochemical
exhibition, which runs until Saturday, is being held under the slogan "Oil
Industry, Technology Production and Optimal Consumption".