TEHRAN (PIN) – The first phase of isocyanate plant of Karun Petrochemical Complex located at Bandar Imam Special Economic Petrochemical Zone has progressed 90.17 percent by the end of the preceding Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2006).

The plant has progressed 96.24 percent in terms of procurement, 59.57 percent in terms of installation and pre-commissioning, 98.96 percent in terms of technical know-how and engineering design, and 95.06 percent in terms of civil operations.

The isocyanate plant will be capable of annual production of 143,000 tons petrochemical products including 40,000 tons toluene di-isocyanate, 40,000 tons methylene diphenylene di-isocyanate and 50,600 tons choleric acid.

The plant is being built over 34 hectares by Karun Petrochemical Complex.

Construction started in the first half of the Iranian year, 1381, and piling operations for the second phase of the plant started in March 2006.

Isocyanates have been the most applied polymers in the world during the past 60 years and are among highly profitable materials.

Feedstock for isocyanate plant includes carbon monoxide, hydrogen, ammonia, toluene, formaldehyde, caustic soda, and nitric acid, which, save for formaldehyde, the rest is imported.

Isocyanate is raw material for producing foams and industrial sponges, insulators, refrigerator parts, false ceiling, automobile parts, covering and adhesives.

The first phase of isocyanate plant was the first petrochemical project ever to be undertaken in cooperation with two foreign companies; namely, Germany’s Hanza Shimie and Sweden’s Chematur. The project is underway at Bandar Imam Special Economic Petrochemical Zone.