Design of active South Pars refineries to be reviewed

Tehran, Nov 11, IRNA – Deputy Oil Minister for Engineering Affairs Seyed Emad Hosseini said by reviewing the design of active refineries in South Pars field refining capacity will be increased and new refineries will be built as well. Stressing that design of South Pars refineries was for operation within a period of eight to 10 years, he said under the status quo there is need to change the design of the refineries. “By increasing the refining capacity of the existing refineries we have decided to prevent establishment of new refineries,” the official said, adding that on this basis there is possibility of reviewing South Pars refineries which have been designed before but have not been built yet. “Of course,” he added, “no change will be made in the projects construction of which has already been started.” He said different phases of South Pars enjoy specific characteristics and therefore cannot be copied but this has occurred and therefore needs a review. South Pars gas field is one of the largest independent gas reservoirs in the world lying on the territorial border between Iran and the State of Qatar in the Persian Gulf. It is one of the country's main energy resources. This gas field covers an area of 9700 square kilometers, of which 3700 square kilometers belongs to Iran. Production and processing of gas in 10 phases of South Pars is carried on in five independent refineries which are close to each other and two km from the Persian Gulf coastal line in Pars Special Economic, Energy Zone in Assalouyeh Port in Bushehr Province, 270 km east of Bushehr. With the operation of Phases 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18 in the current year, refineries related to these phase will be put in operation. Phases 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 14, 13 and 24 will become operational in coming years after completion of the above-mentioned phases./end