Omid Shakeri said Monday at a ceremony to sign selected research and technology contracts of the National Iranian Oil Co. that the oil minister issued the directive to streamline research and technology activities across the industry and define specific tasks. Based on those assignments, the priority roadmap document was prepared within three months.

He said the comprehensive research roadmap for the oil industry’s upstream and downstream sectors was communicated in November, adding that, based on the roadmap, a book outlining the technological needs of the industry’s four main companies was compiled and unveiled last week.

Shakeri said the needs focus on the oil industry’s real requirements and help define research projects. In this area, among the Oil Ministry and the four main companies, the National Iranian Oil Co. has the largest share, he said, noting that at a recent meeting attended by the first vice president, the company ranked first among all state-owned enterprises.

About $460m approved for first-of-a-kind production

Shakeri said theNIOC’s capacity in technology activities exceeds 1 trillion tomans and expressed hope for expanded research and technology efforts.

He noted that the Oil Ministry has ranked first among state-owned companies in first-of-a-kind production for several years, but said the top ranking should not distract from the main goal. “The objective is not just building a prototype,” he said. “Orders must be placed so items previously imported are produced domestically, preventing foreign currency outflows.”

Shakeri said about $460 million in approvals for first-of-a-kind production has been secured so far, but only $260 million has led to contracts, underscoring the need for greater agility, especially given rapid technological change that requires faster action.

‘Innovative Goods Harmonization Document’ issued

Shakeri also cited the oil minister’s issuance of the “Innovative Goods Harmonization Document,” saying it addresses all legal, contractual and technical requirements and was communicated to advance first-of-a-kind production contracts.

He said the technology annex could drive significant transformation, adding that including a technology annex clause in all Economic Council approvals and leveraging the capacity of parks and research institutes present an opportunity to accelerate growth in the oil industry and achieve key objectives.