In an interview with NIPNA, Rezaei announced NPC's plan to develop a
national Data Lake to centralize information from petrochemical companies. This
will enable the use of AI tools such as predictive maintenance, digital twins,
and market analysis to boost efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize catalyst
usage.
He noted that 91.4% of personnel working on the Gachsaran Heavy
Polyethylene Project are local, showcasing the industry’s commitment to local
employment. NPC intends to build an AI assistant, but data consolidation must
come first.
Key initiatives include:
- Voluntary
data-sharing model: Companies will be offered AI-based
services in exchange for sharing their data—eliminating the need for
regulatory mandates.
- Tax
incentives: Under cooperation with the Vice Presidency
for Science and Technology, companies can invest in AI projects instead of
paying certain taxes.
- Open-source
infrastructure: A shared GPU-based infrastructure will
support the development of large language models (LLMs) and intelligent
agents, accessible to both petrochemical firms and startups.
- Environmental
and productivity goals: AI can help the industry align with global
pressures to reduce fossil fuel flaring and improve hydrocarbon
utilization, such as using petrochemical outputs in essential goods like
medicine.
- Focus
on ethics and cybersecurity: Integrating AI into petrochemical
operations requires strict adherence to national cybersecurity and ethical
standards, particularly when linking IT and OT environments.
Rezaei concluded that AI is now a crucial tool for sustainable
development in the petrochemical industry, capable of minimizing environmental
impacts and enhancing long-term value creation.