TEHRAN – The first phase of isocyanate project underway by Karun Petrochemical Complex at Bandar Imam Special Economic Petrochemical Zone is more than 93.4 percent complete.

Isocyanate has been the one of the most widely used polymer product in the world over the past 60 years and its production inside the country will be a great step toward progress of upstream and downstream petrochemical industries, Iran’s Petroenergy Information Network said on Tuesday.

The plant will have an annual production capacity of 80,000 tons including 40,000 tons toluene di-isocyanate (TDI), 40,000 tons methylene di-phenylene di-isocyanate (MDI) and 50,600 tons choleric acid. The project is being carried out in cooperation with several foreign companies.

Detailed engineering of the plant is 99 percent complete while the pre-commissioning phase of the project is 85 percent complete. The plant will make Iran self-sufficient in terms of isocyanate import.

The project is being carried out in over 34 hectares by Karun Petrochemical Complex. It started in early 2002 and the second phase was kicked off in March 2005.

Isocyanates are used to produce foams and industrial sponges, insulators, refrigerator parts, false ceiling, automobile parts, coverings and adhesives.