TEHRAN (PIN) – Zagros Petrochemical Complex Managing Director Mehdi Hamidi said the Methanol No. 2 of the plant would come on stream in the first half of next Iranian calendar year (March 20 to Sept. 21, 2008).

He added the pre-commissioning of the second unit that had made a 95 physical progress started.
“When the second unit is put into operation, Zagros Petrochemical Complex will produce 1.65 million tons of methanol per annum,” said the official, adding the investment for the construction of the second unit would reach 135 million dollars.
“With a 3.3 million ton production capacity, Zagros Petrochemical Complex is the world’s largest methanol producer,” Hamidi said.
The managing director added the complex had been set up in Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) – known as Assaluyeh – to have easy access to feedstock.
Zagros Petrochemical Complex earned 300 million dollars through its exports since the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2007).
Hamidi said the plant was set up in 2000 within the framework of the Third Five-Year Economic Development Plan, aiming to produce 1.65 million tons of methanol per annum.
Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) awarded the engineering and supply contract for its Methanol No. 4 project to Germany’s Lurgi Oel.Gas.Chemie GmbH and Iran’s Petrochemical Industries Design and Engineering Company (PIDEC) in 2000, according to the NPC News Bulletin.
The contract covers the provision of license, basic engineering, supply of equipment and technical assistance for the plant. Lurgi use its state-of-the art technology, gas cooled methanol reactor for the project.
PIDEC, Lurgi’s partner to the project, provided the detailed engineering and the equipment that are manufactured in Iran.
Zagros Petrochemical Company (ZPC), an NPC subsidiary, implemented and operated the project.
“Based on statistics, the world’s annual methanol output stand at 50 million tons,” said Hamidi, adding Iran accounted for 5.3 percent of global methanol production with a 1,750 ton output per year.
He added Methanol No. 4 project would help Iran increase its output to 5.05 million tons annually, 10.1 percent of the world’s production.
Zagros Petrochemical Complex chief said 325 million dollars had been invested for the construction of the complex.
He added petrochemical projects of the complex were implemented in a parcel of land with a 30 ha area, of which 15 ha was allotted to the first phase of Methanol No. 4 project.
Hamidi said the second phase of methanol development plan with a 1.65 million ton production capacity was underway in a 15 ha land.
Iran exported 6.48 million tons of petrochemical products from March 21 to Dec. 21, 2007.
The exports fetched the country 3.84 billion dollars.
Liquefied gas had the lion’s share in exports, weighing 1.787 million tons.
The total value of export-bound petrochemical products is predicted to reach five billion dollars by next March.
Assaluyeh exported 3.058 million tons of petrochemical products to the world markets in the nine month period.
According to the National Petrochemical Company (NPC), the products were exported by the Petrochemical Reserves and Terminals Company via the specialized port.
Zagros, Nuri, and Pars petrochemical complexes ranked first to third, exporting of 802, 624, and 473 thousand tons respectively.
The NPC added the products were shipped to the Asian and European states by 179 vessels.
Zagros, Nuri, Ghadir, and Pars petrochemical complexes have become operational in the first phase of Assaluyeh.
The NPC plans manager announced that 16 billion dollars would be invested in the second phase of petrochemical sector of Assaluyeh.
Jalil Ebrahimpur added the fund would be used to set up 22 petrochemical plants.
According to the NPC official, the budget is two times more than the amount invested in the first phase of Assaluyeh petrochemical sector.
The plans manager said the second phase of Assaluyeh would help the country take the second step toward the development of petrochemical industry.
Ebrahimpur added, “Out of 22 petrochemical units, the three plants of Kavian, Morvarid, and Mehr are under construction and will be expected to come on stream in mid-2008.”