Speaking at the inauguration of the Petrochemical Strategic Studies
Office, also known as the Petrochemical House, Abbaszadeh underscored the
importance of a dedicated research base to enhance decision-making in the
industry.
“Diversifying target markets, identifying opportunities and
challenges, and closely monitoring industry trends must be prioritized,” he
said, stressing that ensuring a stable feedstock supply is the primary
challenge facing the sector.
Iran’s petrochemical industry has an annual production capacity of 100
million tons, but 20% remains unused. Abbaszadeh highlighted the need for
comprehensive studies to address this issue and secure a reliable feedstock
supply to support the sector’s targeted 8% annual growth.
He also pointed to global market trends, particularly in India, China,
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Africa, urging detailed market assessments to identify
key product demands and diversify export destinations.
Additionally, Abbaszadeh called for strategic research into carbon
emissions, especially flare gases, describing it as a national priority.
He also noted that a regional planning project is underway at NPC to
evaluate and define downstream industries for each province.
The NPC chief emphasized forming expert working groups and leveraging
industry expertise to advance petrochemical projects, urging the swift
commencement of essential studies to enhance the sector’s overall performance.
Strengthening Academic and International Collaboration
Mohammad Sadegh Jokar, President of the Institute for International
Energy Studies, highlighted the institute’s mission to establish effective
connections with domestic and international academic institutions.
“This center aims to develop operational mechanisms addressing various
issues, including pricing strategies, media influence, and petrochemical system
developments,” Jokar said.
He noted that a policy council has been set up to determine key
research topics and form study groups that analyze market trends, pricing
shifts, and research needs, with findings regularly submitted to the Ministry
of Petroleum.
Jokar also underscored the center’s role in data modeling and
forecasting national energy demand. He revealed that monitoring robots are
being deployed to collect precise market and media data, aiding in predictive
analysis.
“By establishing a network of think tanks and experts, this center
seeks to enhance decision-making processes in the petrochemical sector,” he
concluded.