Iran has become the first country in the Middle East to acquire the technology to mass-produce catalysts essential for oil and gas industries, according to Iran’s Industries and Mines Minister.
According to a Press TV report, Ali Akbar Mehrabian said in the inauguration of the country’s first catalyst factory that:Â “Currently, about 100 industrial catalysts are produced in different countries and Iran has acquired the technical knowledge for producing all of them.”
He said that Iran will start producing a variety of catalysts soon.
“The factory is capable of mass-producing six industrial catalysts necessary for oil and gas, steel and petrochemicals industries,” he said, adding that Iran imports about 7,000 tonnes of industrial catalysts per year at a cost of almost US$500 million.
Mehrabian further said the catalyst is being used in processing crude oil to produce petrol and reduce the damages to the environment as well.
Mehrabian said Iran has now officially joined the countries that have the technology to produce industrial catalysts – the US, Germany, Britain, France and Denmark.
In a bid to become more independent, Iran has prioritised the acquisition of technical know-how to mass produce industrial catalysts.
On Saturday the managing director of the Iranian Central Oil Field Company (ICOFC), Mehdi Fakour said the country’s gas production will rise to 325 million cubic metres this year.
“The amount will be produced in Khangiran and Homa gas fields,” Fakour said.
The ICOFC will also produce 165,000 barrels of oil in its oil fields according to the IRIB news agency.
