01 October 2011
Four indigenized catalysts used in the petrochemical industry were unveiled at Petrochemical Research and Technology Company in a ceremony attended by Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi. Western states had imposed sanctions on the procurement of the catalysts.
One of these catalysts pertains to dehydrogenization of light and heavy paraffin. Domestic production of this catalyst began in 2008 and continued to 2010 with its design, construction, installing and commissioning as a pilot project, IRNA reported.
Some 15 kilograms of the catalyst were produced on pilot scale and then used in Bandar Imam's MTBE Unit's dehydrogenization reactor for testing.
Later, it was used in the said unit and also LAB unit of Bisotoun Petrochemical Complex. It is also predicted that the catalyst be used in Propane Dehydrogenization (PDH) units of Salman Petrochemical Complex in Bandar Imam and Mehr Petro Kimia Petrochemical Complex in Assaluyeh.
These units, which will become operational in the next three years, will produce propylene from propane by utilizing oxy dehydrogenization method.
Big Saving
The next catalyst is linked to production of Acetic Acid and it is currently among items on which sanctions have been imposed.
The catalyst was successfully tested at Fanavaran Petrochemical Company.
Results of the test show that quality and standard of this catalyst equal that of its foreign counterpart. Furthermore, some $4 million to $14 million will be spent on purchasing the current and future requirements respectively of this catalyst. If the needs of the country for this catalyst are procured, some $1 million to $3 million will be saved each year.
Another catalyst is called ABC and it was tested for the first time at Jam Petrochemical Complex's polyethylene industrial unit.
The other catalyst produced in the country is called SAC. It was produced for the first time in the country on an industrial scale and it was tested at Maroon Petrochemical Complex's heavy polyethylene unit.
With the production of this catalyst, dependence on foreign firms has been curbed and about $35 million can be saved each year. Ethylene production units in Kermanshah, Mamasani, Dehdasht, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Darab, Bafq, Ferdos, Zahedan and Birjand petrochemical complexes can use this catalyst.
Importance of Research
Oil Ministry does not consider research projects as costly and plans to organize them in a desirable way, oil minister said.
Speaking in the unveiling ceremony of four locally produced catalysts developed by petrochemical industry researchers, Rostam Qasemi said, "Currently, the technical know-how for the production and implementation of many projects have turned into an instrument making progress."
By unveiling these catalysts, he said, "We proved that we have also entered this area."
The minister underlined the need for research before starting the projects.
He explained the trend of manufacturing oil industry's equipment as desirable adding with the removal of minor obstacles which exist in the way of manufacturers, it is expected that domestically made equipment will compete with the foreign ones.
He continued that one of the main responsibilities of the ministry is better management of existing resources to promote the quality of people's life.
Referring to private sector as an indispensable part of the economy, the minister said, "Transferring knowledge based companies such as Petrochemical Research And Technology Company to private sector can damage our industrial interests."
According to Qasemi despite the gap of years from the imposed war (Iraq's invasion of Iran in 1980), the war has continued in a more complicated and different way..., since the new war is the war of thoughts and ideas.
On the latest developments of ongoing phases of the South Pars gas field, he said construction of the phases has been accelerated and hopefully the projects will be completed on schedule.
Four indigenized catalysts used in the petrochemical industry were unveiled at Petrochemical Research and Technology Company in a ceremony attended by Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi. Western states had imposed sanctions on the procurement of the catalysts.
One of these catalysts pertains to dehydrogenization of light and heavy paraffin. Domestic production of this catalyst began in 2008 and continued to 2010 with its design, construction, installing and commissioning as a pilot project, IRNA reported.
Some 15 kilograms of the catalyst were produced on pilot scale and then used in Bandar Imam's MTBE Unit's dehydrogenization reactor for testing.
Later, it was used in the said unit and also LAB unit of Bisotoun Petrochemical Complex. It is also predicted that the catalyst be used in Propane Dehydrogenization (PDH) units of Salman Petrochemical Complex in Bandar Imam and Mehr Petro Kimia Petrochemical Complex in Assaluyeh.
These units, which will become operational in the next three years, will produce propylene from propane by utilizing oxy dehydrogenization method.
Big Saving
The next catalyst is linked to production of Acetic Acid and it is currently among items on which sanctions have been imposed.
The catalyst was successfully tested at Fanavaran Petrochemical Company.
Results of the test show that quality and standard of this catalyst equal that of its foreign counterpart. Furthermore, some $4 million to $14 million will be spent on purchasing the current and future requirements respectively of this catalyst. If the needs of the country for this catalyst are procured, some $1 million to $3 million will be saved each year.
Another catalyst is called ABC and it was tested for the first time at Jam Petrochemical Complex's polyethylene industrial unit.
The other catalyst produced in the country is called SAC. It was produced for the first time in the country on an industrial scale and it was tested at Maroon Petrochemical Complex's heavy polyethylene unit.
With the production of this catalyst, dependence on foreign firms has been curbed and about $35 million can be saved each year. Ethylene production units in Kermanshah, Mamasani, Dehdasht, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Darab, Bafq, Ferdos, Zahedan and Birjand petrochemical complexes can use this catalyst.
Importance of Research
Oil Ministry does not consider research projects as costly and plans to organize them in a desirable way, oil minister said.
Speaking in the unveiling ceremony of four locally produced catalysts developed by petrochemical industry researchers, Rostam Qasemi said, "Currently, the technical know-how for the production and implementation of many projects have turned into an instrument making progress."
By unveiling these catalysts, he said, "We proved that we have also entered this area."
The minister underlined the need for research before starting the projects.
He explained the trend of manufacturing oil industry's equipment as desirable adding with the removal of minor obstacles which exist in the way of manufacturers, it is expected that domestically made equipment will compete with the foreign ones.
He continued that one of the main responsibilities of the ministry is better management of existing resources to promote the quality of people's life.
Referring to private sector as an indispensable part of the economy, the minister said, "Transferring knowledge based companies such as Petrochemical Research And Technology Company to private sector can damage our industrial interests."
According to Qasemi despite the gap of years from the imposed war (Iraq's invasion of Iran in 1980), the war has continued in a more complicated and different way..., since the new war is the war of thoughts and ideas.
On the latest developments of ongoing phases of the South Pars gas field, he said construction of the phases has been accelerated and hopefully the projects will be completed on schedule.
© Iran Daily 2011
