Ahmad Mahdavi Abhari, secretary general of the Association of
Petrochemical Industry Employers, said the priorities were public participation
in energy management, reforming consumption patterns through sustained cultural
change, and investment in new gas fields and flare gas collection.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the signing of agreements on
energy-saving projects, Mahdavi Abhari said part of Iran’s petrochemical
capacity remained idle, causing significant economic losses.
He said the sector currently consumes about 25 billion cubic metres of
gas per year, while full utilisation of its nominal capacity of around 96
million tonnes would require roughly 33 billion cubic metres annually. The gap
reflects about 23% unused capacity, around 60% of which is due to feedstock
shortages, he said.
Mahdavi Abhari estimated the annual value of this unused capacity at
around $20 billion, adding that it represented a major missed opportunity for
the economy.
Citing official data, he said Iran lost about $1.4 billion in exports
last year due to gas shortages, equivalent to roughly 2.5% of the country’s
total non-oil exports. Under Iran’s Seventh Development Plan, non-oil exports
are expected to grow by 23% annually, a target in which the petrochemical
sector could play a significant role, he said.
He said investment in flare gas collection would not only reduce
environmental pollution but also prevent the waste of national resources and
generate added economic value.
Mahdavi Abhari added that ongoing projects were progressing rapidly
and said the petrochemical industry had taken “significant steps” towards
improving energy efficiency, with cooperation agreements expected to further
strengthen efforts to optimise energy use.