Speaking to local media, Abbaszadeh said optimizing energy consumption
should involve collaboration among all stakeholders to reduce losses and ensure
a steady supply of feedstock for industries, including petrochemicals.
Under Iran’s Seventh Development Plan, the petrochemical industry aims
to expand production capacity by more than 130 million tonnes, he noted,
emphasizing that this is the first five-year plan to define clear quantitative
targets for value-chain development.
The plan focuses on completing four main petrochemical chains —
methanol, propylene, ethylene, and aromatics — to promote balanced and
sustainable growth across the sector.
Abbaszadeh highlighted that the petrochemical industry represents the
value chain of Iran’s oil sector, with the twin goals of accelerating
production and preventing crude export dependency.
A key element of the plan, he said, is securing reliable feedstock,
including efforts to capture associated flare gas in key regions such as West
and East Karun, Dehloran, Ilam, and Asalouyeh. These initiatives aim both to
increase feedstock availability and reduce environmental impact.
“Natural gas is a primary feedstock for petrochemicals. Rising
consumption in households and general industries sometimes limits industrial
supply,” Abbaszadeh said. “Through public awareness and stakeholder
participation, we hope to optimize gas use to ensure uninterrupted production.”
He also underscored the need for coordination between upstream oil
development and downstream petrochemical growth, stating that maximizing
feedstock utilization is essential for achieving the industry’s strategic
objectives.