CEO Davoudreza Rabani told the 33rd National Petrochemical CEOs meeting that Bakhtar has developed polyethylene slurry catalysts, gas-phase polyethylene catalysts, methanol synthesis catalysts, and ethylene oxide catalysts – many of which are now applied in major plants such as Kaveh, Arya Methanol, Maroon, and Kermanshah Polymer.
He said the methanol catalyst, co-developed with local R&D, is of “world-class quality” and has been purchased multiple times by Kaveh Petrochemical. Meanwhile, about 200 tons of ethylene oxide catalyst have been produced domestically. Russia has already imported Bakhtar’s gas-phase polyethylene catalyst, he added.
Rabani highlighted that Bakhtar is not only producing catalysts but also moving into engineering and design. The company has designed major complexes, including the 3.5 million ton Kangan gas refinery petrochemical project and C2+ separation units. It has also transferred methanol plant know-how to Russia.
On upstream projects, Rabani pointed to a 20-year contract covering the Pazanan and Gordian gas fields, involving 24 wells with peak production capacity of 31.5 mcm/d and estimated cumulative output of 180 bcm of gas plus 58 million barrels of condensate – worth about $32 billion for the state. The project requires $1.8 billion in investment, he said.
“Our achievements go beyond lab research; these catalysts are the beating heart of Iran’s petrochemical plants today,” Rabani stressed. “We are ready to place this capacity at the service of the entire industry and even expand Iran’s footprint in regional and global markets.”