During his first visit of the year to Pardis Petrochemical
Company in Assaluyeh, Abbaszadeh highlighted Iran’s growing footprint in the
global urea market and called for stronger market diversification.
"Pardis Petrochemical is not only a key player in Iran
but also holds a significant position globally. We have made notable progress
in barter trade and have secured new markets in countries like Brazil. Now, we
are exploring further opportunities in Africa," he said.
Abbaszadeh acknowledged that Iran had lost ground in certain
markets in recent years, particularly India, but stressed that efforts were
underway to regain market share. "Global demand for urea is rising, and we
must adopt a strategic approach to strengthen our presence in these
markets," he stated.
Investment and Environmental Commitments
The NPC chief emphasized the need for increased investment
in petrochemical infrastructure, particularly in sustainability-driven
projects. "In line with this year’s theme of 'Investment for Production,'
capital must be directed toward development initiatives, including the
collection of excess gas in the region, which has both environmental and
economic significance," he noted.
One key project under consideration is the long-delayed CO₂
capture initiative. Abbaszadeh called for immediate action, stating: "This
project has been on the agenda for years, yet its implementation has been
postponed. Beyond its environmental benefits, it makes economic sense and must
be prioritized."
Addressing Production Challenges
Pardis Petrochemical CEO Abdolrahim Ghanbarian, who
accompanied Abbaszadeh during the visit, pointed to supply chain disruptions as
a major production challenge. "Last year, feedstock shortages forced one
of our urea production units offline for 159 days, significantly impacting
output and exports. We hope this issue will be resolved in the new year,"
he said.
Ghanbarian called for a stable and sufficient supply of
feedstock to ensure continuous production, emphasizing that the company has the
necessary expertise and infrastructure but requires consistent raw material
availability.
The visit also included senior officials such as Sakhavat
Asadi, CEO of Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, and top executives from NPC
and the Pars region. At the conclusion of the tour, Abbaszadeh reaffirmed NPC’s
commitment to collaborating closely with Pardis Petrochemical to overcome
operational hurdles and thanked industry workers for their dedication.
"I hope this year will bring success to Pardis and
Iran’s petrochemical sector as a whole. With collective effort, we can achieve
our development goals," he stated.