TEHRAN – The Ministry of Petroleum has issued 18 permits to the private sector for the construction of crude oil refineries.

These permits have been issued since 2007 with the passing of the amendment of Article 44 of the Constitution calling for privatization of state-run institutions.
Deputy Oil Minister Akbar Torkan told the Mehr news agency that the construction operation of two of the projects has been initiated.
He added that the private sector has voiced its readiness to build gasoline and bitumen refineries, hence, the ministry has issued the permit for building the refineries in Khuzestan and Bushehr Provinces.