Hassan Abbaszadeh, Iran’s deputy petroleum minister and chief
executive of the National Petrochemical Company, said about 1.5 billion cubic
feet per day of flare gas was currently being collected in Khuzestan province
and neighbouring regions.
He said a significant portion of the flare gas recovery projects had
come on stream this year, adding that 14 major flares had so far been shut down
under the Bidboland Persian Gulf project, out of a total of 57 planned.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony to sign
agreements on reducing energy consumption, Abbaszadeh said natural gas was a
key feedstock for the petrochemical industry, but rising household and general
industrial demand sometimes led to supply constraints for producers.
He said petrochemical companies had signed memorandums of
understanding to carry out public awareness campaigns and replace inefficient
equipment in Iran’s three northern provinces – Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan –
with the aim of reducing gas consumption in households and general industries.
Abbaszadeh said energy service companies were acting as intermediaries
to implement gas-saving measures in regions where residential, greenhouse and
poultry farm consumption was high, adding that the industry aimed to double
last year’s results.
The target is to cut gas consumption by up to 42%, with an estimated
reduction of around 2 million cubic metres per day over several months, he
said, noting that the impact would vary depending on the type of petrochemical
product.
He said the flare gas projects not only reduced environmental
pollution but also prevented the loss of valuable resources by returning
associated gas to the economic cycle.
Abbaszadeh said cooperation between the oil ministry, the private
sector, non-governmental organisations, the media and the public was essential
to achieving energy efficiency goals.