Hossein Alimorad, NPC’s director of planning and development, said the
petrochemical sector has become more than an economic pillar under
international sanctions. It now serves as a tool for advancing economic goals,
strengthening foreign relations, and diversifying exports.
Despite Iran’s vast hydrocarbon reserves and low-cost feedstock, the
industry faces challenges including sanctions, restrictions on technology
transfer, limited financing, and reduced access to key export markets. Regional
rivals such as Saudi Arabia’s SABIC have leveraged advanced technologies,
international partnerships, and global capital markets to secure a stronger
competitive position, Alimorad noted.
NPC has begun drafting a company-wide strategic plan to determine
“where we are, where we want to go, and how to get there,” with input from
industry veterans and academic experts. The next phase will extend the roadmap
for the entire petrochemical industry through 2051 (1430 in the Iranian
calendar), possibly with support from foreign consultants, Alimorad said.
The planning includes a foresight project to model market shifts,
technology trends, and environmental, political, and economic scenarios.
Priorities include investment in advanced technologies such as digitalisation
and circular economy models, partnerships with countries such as China and
Russia, and expansion of transport and logistics infrastructure to cut export
costs.
Alimorad said NPC is also coordinating with major holding companies to
invest in gas field development and flare-gas recovery projects to secure
feedstock and ease the country’s energy imbalance. A consortium led by Bakhtar
Petrochemical and Petrofarhang Holding recently signed a $1.4 billion deal with
the National Iranian Oil Company to develop the Gardan and Pazen gas fields.
He added that petrochemical diplomacy, involving closer coordination
between industry and Iran’s foreign ministry, will be used to unlock new
markets and strengthen existing ones. “The strategy is to diversify the
customer base, reduce export costs through preferential tariffs, and increase
competitiveness in emerging international markets,” he said.
According to NPC, about 70% of Iran’s petrochemical output since 2016
has been exported, providing critical foreign currency revenues for the
economy.