BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec. 14
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran will be able to save some $150-$180 million with the domestic production of catalysts in the petrochemical industry, thanks to import substitution, by the end of next Iranian year (March 21, 2022), Executive Director of Petrochemical Research and Technology Company (PRTC) Ali Pejuhan told IRNA, Trend reports.
Pejuhan noted that in total, 40 types of catalysts are used in Iran's petrochemical industry.
He added that 70 percent of these catalysts will be produced in Iran domestically by the end of next Iranian year.
The director stressed that certain researches are underway on the domestic production of the remaining catalysts. The number and consumption of these catalysts is not very high.
According to him, at the same time, there is no monopoly on the sale of these catalysts. However, if technical knowledge is gained, they can be produced if necessary.
Pejuhan said that the methanol catalyst was produced domestically in the current Iranian year (began March 20, 2020). About 98 percent of raw materials for methanol catalyst are supplied domestically and 2 percent by imports.
Pejuhan emphasized that the total value of catalysts used in the petrochemical industry in Iran amounts to $270 million annually. Of course, the value of non-ferrous metals is also calculated in this amount. The value of non-ferrous metals in the production of catalysts is one third.
Iran is implementing two plans to increase the production of petrochemical products. According to the first plan, Iran's petrochemical production will increase from 66 million tons to 100 million tons per year, and the revenues from $15 billion to $25 billion until March 20, 2022.
According to the second plan, Iran's petrochemical production will reach 133 million tons per year and the revenues will reach $37 billion by March 20, 2026.
Iran produced 31 million tons of petrochemicals last Iranian year (March 21, 2019 - March 20, 2020). Of these, 8 million tons were sold within the country, and 23 million tons of products were exported. The total sale value was $15 billion.