Ahmad Moradi, a member of the Iranian Parliament's Energy Committee,
said on Sunday that the petrochemical industry plays a critical role in both
global and domestic economies, offering long-term sustainability and value.
“In any country that has prioritized petrochemicals, significant
progress has been made in refining and downstream activities,” Moradi said,
speaking to NIPNA.
He emphasized that regardless of whether investments come from
state-owned enterprises, quasi-governmental institutions, or private firms, the
continuation and effectiveness of such investments require strategic
coordination led by the Ministry of Petroleum.
“The ministry must have the legal authority to exercise oversight over
all companies operating in this sector,” he said, adding that the lack of
oversight issues stems not from legal deficiencies, but from implementation
gaps.
Moradi stated that the law clearly defines responsibilities across
public, semi-public, and private sectors, underscoring the need for both local
and national governance mechanisms to support the industry's growth.
The lawmaker also noted that the Ministry of Petroleum can use
existing legal tools to resolve lingering disputes and inefficiencies in the
sector. “This is a dynamic, revenue-generating industry, and stronger oversight
will help resolve many of its current challenges,” he said.
He assured that the Iranian Parliament, particularly its Energy and
Industry Committees, will intervene wherever regulatory or operational gaps are
identified.
Moradi cited the example of petrochemical companies under the
ownership of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare,
specifically the Social Security Investment Company (Shasta), affirming that
their involvement is legitimate as they serve pensioners’ financial interests.
“Still, the overarching supervision of the industry must remain with
the Ministry of Petroleum,” he said.