Azerbaijan, Baku, May.12/ Trend F.Karimov/
Iran has agreed with six African countries to establish oil refineries in those countries, the Mehr News Agency quoted the chairman of the union of Iranian exporters of oil derivatives, Hassan Khosrojerdi, as saying.
The refineries are projected to have 20,000 barrels per day of capacity, he added.
Memorandums of understanding have been signed with the African countries and preliminary measures for finding appropriate places to establish the refineries are underway, he noted.
Iran's Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi has said that the country has significantly developed its capacity to ship oil overseas despite illegal U.S.-led sanctions.
Qasemi noted that despite the U.S.-led sanctions on Tehran, the country overhauled its oil industry by developing its shipping industry and expanding its oil market.
The sanctions, which prevent the EU member states from purchasing Iranian oil or extending insurance coverage for tankers carrying Iranian crude, came into effect on July 1, 2012.
The U.S.-engineered sanctions were imposed based on the accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. Iran rejects the allegation, saying that as a committed signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.