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410985
Thu, 06/30/2016 - 11:08
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Iran stabilizing oil products export

Tehran, Iran, June 29 By Mehdi Sepahvand – Trend: The Iranian Oil Ministry has been successful in stabilizing the exports of such main products as mazut, liquefied gas, kerosene, and gas oil, according to Deputy Oil Minister and CEO of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) Abbas Kazemi. “For the first time in the history of our oil industry, we have been able to constantly export these products since the beginning of the Iranian fiscal year 1394 (March 21, 2015). They used to be exported at earlier times but only for short periods of time,” the deputy minister told Trend June 28. “Currently, we are exporting 50 mlpd of mazut, 2,000 tons per day of liquefied gas, and 14 mlpd of gas oil,” he said, adding, “The amount of gas oil export can be easily raised to 20 mlpd because we have increased distribution of natural gas to the domestic sector and power plants, which leaves an amount of 20 mlpd surplus gas oil.” The company’s prominent challenge right now is that some old refineries are producing too much mazut, Kazemi stated, adding that the company plans to make some changes to turn the surplus mazut into gas oil and gasoline. There is some foreign investor that is to carry out the necessary changes at Isfahan Refinery, and talks are underway with investors for Bandar Abbas and Tabriz refineries as well, the official noted. The deputy minister went on to comment on the production and distribution of gasoline in Iran. He said of the 62 mlpd of domestically produced gasoline, 29 mlpd meets the Euro-4 standard. “There are nine refineries in Iran that produce gasoline. Our refineries in Arak, and recently in Isfahan and Tabriz produce Euro-4 gasoline,” he said. “The incumbent government managed to increase the production of gasoline from 56 mlpd in March 2013 to the current level of 61 to 62 mlpd. The refineries of Isfahan, Arak, and Lavan have achieved the highest increases in the meantime,” Kazemi added. He predicted that during the current Iranian fiscal year (to end March 20), the country would need to import 8 mlpd of gasoline. “Bandar Abbas Refinery’s gasoline units will come on stream in late September. Our largest developing project is the Persian Gulf Star which is operated privately. It is meant to produce 36 mlpd of Euro-4 gasoline as well as 13 mlpd of Euro-4 gas oil,” the deputy minister told Trend. “The construction of the refinery has been accomplished by over 90 percent. We hope that the first phase will become operational by March to produce 12 mlpd of gasoline and raise the need for imports,” he said.

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