“Digital transformation is no longer a
choice—it’s a strategic imperative for survival,” said Shahram Rezaei,
advisor to the NPC managing director, during a panel discussion on digital
maturity in Iran’s petrochemical sector. “The era of relying solely on hardware
development and raw material exports is over. The future belongs to smart
systems, data architecture, and the empowerment of small and medium-sized
enterprises.”
Rezaei said rapid global shifts—ranging from
climate change and resource constraints to international pressures—are
reshaping the energy sector’s business model. “We can no longer create value by
merely expanding pipelines or increasing output,” he said. “We must turn
underground resources into high-value products that drive domestic production
chains and generate sustainable employment.”
He added that global experience shows lasting
transformation only occurs when digital technology, data-driven management, and
process redesign are combined. “What creates value today is not more hardware,
but smarter processes, data analytics, and data-based services.”
Public-private transparency crucial
Rezaei warned that the lack of transparency and
trust between the public and private sectors remains a major barrier. “Private
investors need stability, predictability, and access to real data, but they
often face opaque markets,” he said. “If the private sector is to drive
innovation, we must build a transparent, trust-based framework that enables
confident investment and risk management.”
Digitalization for resilience and crisis
prediction
Digital transformation, he added, is not just
about efficiency but also about resilience. “Feedstock or power disruptions can
cripple production and reduce overall productivity. Digital tools enable
prediction, network coordination, and production stability in critical
conditions,” Rezaei said.
He cited technologies such as the Internet of
Things (IoT), real-time data monitoring, and artificial intelligence as
essential for predictive maintenance, transparency, and supply-chain risk
management—aligned with Iran’s Seventh Development Plan.
Rezaei urged industry leaders to view technology
as a service rather than a product: “Instead of buying expensive
equipment, we should develop shared, data-driven services. This approach allows
smaller companies to benefit from digitalization while spreading innovation
across the sector.”
Cultural and educational shift needed
He emphasized that digital transformation also
depends on changing corporate culture. “Many managers and staff still cling to
traditional methods. Without training in data literacy, smart decision-making,
and new technologies, no digital tool will succeed,” he said.
Next phase: second-generation digitalization
Iran’s petrochemical industry, Rezaei said, is
moving toward “second-generation digitalization”—beyond installing devices to
focus on data architecture, cross-sector synergy, and data-based services.
Pilot projects are already underway, and operational results will be announced
soon.
Rezaei added that digitalization can increase
resilience, lower costs, and expand export markets, but only if Iran
strengthens its capacity for data-based coordination amid feedstock and energy
fluctuations.
He pointed to Saudi Arabia’s use of predictive
feedstock management systems as a model and warned that “every delay in
adopting such solutions carries national economic costs.”
To withstand future sanctions, Rezaei said Iran
must develop self-sufficient, data-based systems for production and equipment
supply. “We may face sanctions not on exports but on technology itself. We must
be ready to sustain production under such constraints,” he said.
Citing Japan and South Korea as examples, he said
both countries achieved resilience through strong data infrastructure and
reduced reliance on external sources. “Iran must follow a similar path to
ensure stability amid sanctions, energy crises, and environmental limits.”
“The future of our industry is not about
producing more—it’s about controlling energy, materials, and data
intelligently,” Rezaei concluded. “Digitalization is not just a tool, it’s a
mindset that teaches us to predict crises rather than merely react to them.”