Following Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries and the reduction in the country's fuel exports to Central Asia, Iran has a unique opportunity to fill Russia's void in regional markets. But can Iran seize this opportunity despite sanctions and domestic challenges?
Announcing the discovery of two petroleum and oil tanks in Pazan Square by the Minister of Petroleum, the director of the National Iranian Oil Company's exploration company, with the new volume, described the square as Iran's largest landfill field.
The head of the country's Energy Removal Base announced the improvement of fuel reserves compared to last year, announcing that the base was aimed at coordinating the ministries for the management of energy supply and demand.
Isfahan Oil Refining Company (EORC) is one of the largest refineries in Iran, having started its activities in the field of crude oil refining in 1979 and today produces about 22% of the country's petroleum products. With a refining capacity of 375,000 barrels per day, the company has a wide variety of petroleum products and feedstock for downstream industries.
In the past year, the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company has implemented six important and strategic projects with an investment of approximately 840 million euros in expanding transmission infrastructure and refinery capacity. Another strategic project worth approximately 2 billion euros is currently being implemented and will be completed by the end of the year.
The CEO of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company announced an increase of 180,000 barrels in the country's refining capacity by the end of this year and said: "Three important projects: oil and gas quality improvement at the Shiraz Refinery, kerosene quality improvement at the Isfahan Refinery, and the gasoline unit at the Tehran Refinery will be put into operation by the end of 1404."
For years, mini-refineries have denied any gasoline exports and have denied accusations of fuel smuggling; but now the CEO of Shazand Petrochemical Company is openly saying that some of these units export gasoline to Afghanistan, and their exit routes are through the Dogharoon and Milak borders.
Refining industry experts warn that government intervention in pricing special products threatens the future profitability of refineries. According to refining industry expert Mehdi Mohseni, experience has shown that mandated pricing not only suppresses production, but also erodes industries' profit margins and creates the basis for rents.
The deputy head of Site 2 of the South Pars Gas Complex announced the successful implementation of major repairs at the refineries of this site and said: "This operation, relying on local technical knowledge and equipment, is an important step in increasing the productivity and sustainability of natural gas production."
Refining expert Mehdi Mohseni, referring to the global energy transition trend, emphasizes that developing and building new refineries without improving the demand side will not lead anywhere. In his opinion, the main solution is to increase the complexity factor and create additional units in existing refineries.
