During the 3rd meeting of the executive committee of the
IPF, which was held in Tehran, Morteza Shahmirzaei, who is also Deputy Minister
of Petroleum, underlined the necessity of balanced development of the industry.
Iran's petrochemical industry is a major contributor to the
country's economy, accounting for a significant share of its non-oil exports.
According to the NPC, the country's petrochemical production capacity has
increased from 20 million tons in 2013 to 66 million tons in 2021. The industry
is expected to reach a production capacity of 100 million tons by 2025,
according to government projections.
Shahmirzaei stated that the IPF offers a good opportunity to
transfer world-class experience and knowledge among industry operators, and
that the capacities of the event should be tapped.
He praised the localization efforts of capable domestic
manufacturers, and noted that Iran is on the path of self-sufficiency in the
manufacturing of catalysts, thanks to the expertise of its scientists and
researchers.
"We must realize more qualitative growth in the
petrochemical industry and produce strategic items in Iran's petrochemical
industry with the aim of meeting the needs of the intermediate and downstream
industries," Shahmirzaei said.
He added that if existing capacities are used, some of the
backlogs in the petrochemical industry can be removed, and that the presence of
experts in this year's conference will play a role in this regard.
The NPC CEO also voiced the company's readiness to support
the sector as a specialized and developmental parent company with the pathology
and examination of some challenges in the petrochemical industry.
The IPF is seen as an important platform for industry
players to share knowledge and expertise, and to collaborate on new
technologies and strategies to drive the industry forward, he went on to add.