In a ceremony held on Sunday, February 9, marking the draw for the
"10% Energy Consumption Reduction Campaign," Abbaszadeh highlighted
the importance of addressing energy inefficiencies.
"Currently, the country's petrochemical production capacity
stands at 96 million tons, with about 23% of the installed capacity remaining
idle, despite an investment of $18 billion," he said.
Abbaszadeh outlined that the petrochemical production capacity is
expected to increase to 131 million tons by the end of Iran's 7th Development
Plan. He explained that the production of new petrochemical projects would
significantly contribute to the industry’s growth.
He also noted that specialized committees have been established to
monitor and ensure feedstock supply for the petrochemical industry. These
committees are exploring various solutions, including facilitating the
participation of petrochemical companies in upstream field development.
Abbaszadeh further emphasized the importance of utilizing renewable
energy sources within the petrochemical industry, highlighting ongoing
initiatives such as the launch of methanol plants powered by solar energy. He
mentioned that the Kavian Methanol plant would soon open one of its solar
farms, with additional projects planned in Kerman, Yazd, Isfahan, and Khorasan
provinces. Wind power projects in Sistan and Baluchestan are also under
construction, aiming to produce 500 MW of wind energy and 800 MW from solar
energy in the first phase.
He stated that any gas savings would directly contribute to meeting
the energy needs of the petrochemical industry. “Adjusting consumption behavior
is essential so that gas supplies can be directed to petrochemical industries.
Along with this, the petrochemical industry is working on shutting down flares
and collecting flare gas,” he added.
Abbaszadeh highlighted recent achievements, noting that the investment
of $1.1 billion in the Bid Boland gas processing plant would lead to the
shutdown of 55 flares, saving approximately 17 million cubic meters of gas. Additionally,
14 more flares are set to be shut down by the end of this year.
The NGL3100 Dehloran flare gas collection project is also nearing
completion, Abbaszadeh revealed. He emphasized that under the 7th Development
Plan, gas flaring reduction projects would be prioritized for investment.
"Optimizing gas consumption is critical not only for households
but also for ensuring that the petrochemical industry receives the feedstock it
needs for production," he concluded, also stressing the importance of fostering
a culture of energy conservation, particularly in greenhouse and poultry
sectors.
Abbaszadeh noted that studies have shown significant potential for gas
savings in these sectors, and petrochemical companies are ready to assist in
improving energy efficiency in these industries.