Speaking at the
Third Iran-Africa Cooperation Summit, Didari emphasized Iran's growing role in
the global methanol market and highlighted extensive investment opportunities
across the methanol value chain.
Zagros
Petrochemical, he noted, operates the world's largest single-site methanol
production complex with an annual capacity of 3.93 million tonnes.
According to
Didari, global methanol production capacity is expected to reach 194 million
tonnes by 2025 and climb to 208 million tonnes by 2028. However, actual
production utilization currently stands at about 64%, meaning global methanol
output is projected to reach around 125 million tonnes in 2025 and 139-140
million tonnes by 2028.
Iran currently
operates 11 methanol plants with a combined nominal capacity of 17.2 million
tonnes per year. Ongoing projects are expected to raise this figure to
approximately 28 million tonnes in the coming years, Didari said.
He also pointed
to cooperation opportunities between Iran and African countries, citing Zagros
Petrochemical’s readiness to expand international partnerships.
Opportunities
in Methanol Derivatives and Hydrogen Production
Didari underlined
Iran's high potential in downstream methanol industries, where up to 28 key
products — including formaldehydes, acetic acid, MTBE, DME, MTO, resins, PET,
and silicones — can be produced. These derivatives serve as critical building
blocks across various industrial sectors, offering significant investment
opportunities, he said.
He explained that
about 64% of global methanol production currently comes from coal, primarily in
China, while 23% is derived from natural gas and 13% from other feedstocks.
Iran’s advantage in natural gas resources positions it strategically to expand
its role in this industry, he added.
New projects with
a combined capacity of 843,000 tonnes are underway in Iran’s methanol
downstream sector, with over $1.1 billion in investments already committed,
Didari said.
He also announced
the construction of a new synthetic ethanol plant with a 300,000-tonne annual
capacity by Zagros Petrochemical.
Iran Eyes
Regional Leadership in Methanol Production
Iran, which holds
the world’s third-largest proven natural gas reserves and ranks second in gas
production, currently accounts for nearly 10% of global methanol output, Didari
said.
He stressed that
Iran is well-positioned to become a regional hub for methanol production and
downstream industries, creating new opportunities for collaboration,
particularly in the production of clean fuels and maritime fuel solutions.
Global trends,
such as the adoption of methanol-fueled vessels — with companies like Germany’s
Maersk and South Korea’s Hyundai planning to deploy over 380 methanol-powered
ships in the next two to three years — also open avenues for joint investment,
he noted.
Didari further
highlighted the strategic importance of producing hydrogen from methanol,
describing it as a key future driver of the energy transition. He affirmed
Iran’s readiness to engage in joint ventures and technology development
projects in this field.
“We believe that
by leveraging our existing capacities in methanol and clean energy, we can make
significant strides toward sustainable development and technology transfer,”
Didari concluded.