He
highlighted how the value-driven, employment-generating, and revenue-generating
petrochemical industry is heralding a transformative era.
Addressing a
diverse audience, including the Deputy President, Oil Ministers, diplomats, and
industry leaders at the event’s opening ceremony, Morteza Shahmirzaei stated,
"Iran's petrochemical industry, which four decades ago was merely involved
in sourcing goods and equipment, chemicals, catalysts, and even facility
operation, has embarked on a journey of real production. Despite facing war and
the subsequent reconstruction of petrochemical units over the past fifteen
years, the installed capacity of Iran's petrochemical industry has now exceeded
92 million tons per year, with daily feedstock consumption equivalent to 1.1
million barrels."
Shahmirzaei
also highlighted the industry's extensive reach, citing the operation of 67
production complexes and 3 ancillary service complexes across the country.
"The future prospects for Iran's petrochemical industry are
extraordinarily promising and appealing," he noted, pointing out that the
Seventh Development Plan was prepared last year, while the Eighth Development
Plan is already finalized and ready for implementation.
Revealing a
staggering $150 billion investment opportunity in Iran's petrochemical industry
by the end of the Eighth Development Plan, Shahmirzaei emphasized that these
opportunities span various sectors of the industry, from upstream to midstream
and downstream.
Commenting on
the remarkable increase in foreign attendees, Shahmirzaei remarked, "The
fact that the number of foreign guests has increased twentyfold compared to the
previous year at the 17th Iranplast Exhibition demonstrates that economic
threats and sanctions have no place in this industry. We have transcended these
boundaries, and many foreign participants have come to this exhibition with
investment plans for Iran's petrochemical sector."
The Deputy Minister
of Petroleum also highlighted that while part of the Tehran International
Permanent Fairground had previously been allocated to the Iranplast Exhibition,
this year's entire exhibition space is dedicated to its 17th edition.
Shahmirzaei
underscored the National Petrochemical Company's commitment to completing the
value chain with the support of holdings and petrochemical associations,
aligning with the administration's 13th administration's policies. He also
noted that by the end of the 13th administration's term, Iran would achieve
self-sufficiency in producing petrochemical catalysts, and all equipment and
materials used in the industry would be domestically manufactured.
In
conclusion, Shahmirzaei urged other relevant authorities, such as the
Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Industry, to expedite the
issuance of permits for petrochemical projects, ensuring their rapid execution.
He emphasized, "Over 35% of petrochemical industrial areas are green
spaces, making the petrochemical industry a 'green industry.' We expect the
Environmental Protection Agency to issue project permits more swiftly to expedite
their operationalization."