During a ceremony commemorating the signing of memoranda of
understanding for the study of development projects across 16 gas fields,
Morteza Shahmirzai described the commencement of investments by petrochemical
companies and holdings in the upstream gas sector as a significant and
auspicious step.
"I urge holdings and petrochemical companies to commit to their
capabilities and invest in a timely manner to avoid interruptions in relevant
projects," Shahmirzai urged.
He further emphasized the imperative for national oil, gas, refining,
and distribution companies to collaborate in maximizing feedstock supply for
the petrochemical industry, aligning with the nation's overarching goals.
Shahmirzai also called upon petrochemical companies and holdings to
adhere to financial regulations and ensure timely payments for feedstock to
prevent disruptions in operations, citing past challenges faced during
springtime feedstock restrictions.
Reflecting on past investments in the upstream sector and gas
gathering efforts, Shahmirzai highlighted ongoing initiatives, including four
projects aimed at gas gathering from the western and eastern Karoun fields,
namely NGL3200, NGL3100, the Bidboland Persian Gulf Gas Gathering Project, and
the Maroun Facility Optimization Project.
"In the next three years, a total of 1.4 billion cubic feet of
gas from the western and eastern Karoun fields will be gathered, equivalent to
40 million cubic meters, with its methane injected into the national grid and
its ethane allocated as feedstock for petrochemicals," Shahmirzai
elaborated.
Characterizing today as a historic day, Shahmirzai stressed the
importance of close collaboration between the government and the private sector
in expediting the implementation of gas field development projects.
Furthermore, the CEO of the National Petrochemical Company affirmed
the company's commitment to supporting holdings in this endeavor, emphasizing
the importance of completing the value chain and diligently pursuing critical
value chain projects alongside investments in the upstream sector.