TEHRAN – Construction of the second unit of the Fourth Methanol Plant of Zagros Petrochemical Complex located at Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (Assaluyeh) is about 2.17 percent complete.

A report issued by the Public Relations Department of National Petrochemical Company noted that the plant as well as the Third Methanol Project of Fanavaran Petrochemical Complex will increase Iran’s share of global methanol production from 1.49 percent to 9.15 percent.

The plant is expected to be finished by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2006) with a production capacity of 1.06 million tons.

Completion of the plant has been mentioned at 51.3 percent for installation and pre-commissioning, 80.77 percent for civil operations, and 98.94 percent for purchase operation.

The Fourth Methanol Project of Pars Special Economic Energy Zone started over an area of about 31 hectares in 2001 and is aimed at producing 3.3 million tons of methanol per year however, when fully operational, the project will create 267 direct jobs.

The natural gas to be supplied by Pars Oil and Gas Company will be used as the feedstock for the complex.

Methanol is used to increase the octane number of gasoline. It is also used as solvent by downstream industries to produce resins, adhesives, formaldehyde, antifreeze, plastics and diesel fuel.