TEHRAN -- Operations have started at Pars Petrochemical Company (PPC) in South Pars gas field to install an ethane production unit to separate ethane, propane and butane gases from natural gas, IRNA reported.

The Oil Ministry said on Monday that Petropart Company and Azarab Industries Company are undertaking the 15-month project for installation of the unit.

Once the unit becomes operational, 1,642,608 tons of ethane, 981,288 tons of propane and 168,000 tons of butane would be obtained from 1,700 million cubic feet of gas.

Moreover, 16 million cubic meters of gases lighter than ethane would be returned to gas refineries in the phases one, two and three of South Pars.

Part of the substances would serve as fuel for the olefin-9 and olefin-10 units and the sub-products of propane and butane would be exported.