Iran able to produce tons of petrochemical products

"At present good and effective measures have been adopted in the petrochemical industry and the (country's) capacity for producing petrochemicals has increased to 54.5mln tons from 25mln tons, which shows a two-fold increase (compared with) the previous amount and indicates our country's efforts and self-sufficiency," Ahmadinejad said in Mahshahr city on Monday. Iran on Monday officially inaugurated three important petrochemical industry projects in the country's Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone. The projects include the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production line at Arvand Petrochemical Complex, the oxygen and nitrogen production line at Maroon Petrochemical Plant and the second liquids loading pier at Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone. All three enterprises were inaugurated in the presence of senior Iranian officials on Monday, May 21, to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Khorramshahr city from Iraqi occupation during the eight-year Iraqi imposed war (1980-1988). Arvand, the fourth petrochemical complex to produce PVC in Iran, will increase the country's annual production capacity by 340 thousand tons. The output will fully satisfy Iran's domestic demands and even turn the country into a PVC exporter. It is estimated that the Islamic Republic will hold 25 to 30 percent of the global market following the export of the product. Since 2005, when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ascended to power, 38 petrochemical plans have been launched leading to rising production of petrochemical products from 20 million tons to 54 million tons per year. Iran's petrochemical products are exported to more than 60 countries across the world.