Esmaeil Hosseini told Shana that with the commissioning of the second train of the CTEP at the South Azadegan joint field, developing shared fields must be a top priority, particularly as the country’s economy relies heavily on oil revenues.

He said Iran has fallen behind in extracting oil from joint fields for various reasons, including economic sanctions, adding that bringing oil projects such as the South Azadegan CTEP online — launched last week under a presidential directive — will play a significant role in closing that gap.

Hosseini said opponents are seeking to disrupt Iran’s oil industry in areas including production and sales, stressing that threats and sanctions can be neutralized through sustained effort and effective management.

He added that launching oil projects such as the South Azadegan CTEP effectively counters sanctions and contributes directly to boosting the country’s oil production.

According to Shana, the second train of the South Azadegan CTEP — the country’s largest oil and gas processing unit — is a strategic infrastructure project of the National Iranian Oil Company in the West Karoun region. It was designed and built to provide stable capacity for processing, transporting and stabilizing crude oil from the South Azadegan field and nearby fields.

The project serves as a critical link between production and development phases in West Karoun and plays a central role in achieving sustainable and reservoir-friendly oil production from joint fields. It is considered the main artery for oil processing and transportation in the region.

The project, spanning about 70 hectares, is designed to reach a stable processing capacity of 320,000 barrels per day in the main operational phase of South Azadegan.

The CTEP required an investment of more than $350 million. About 85% of its equipment was manufactured domestically. The project has created 1,500 direct jobs and 2,500 indirect jobs, including 700 positions filled by local residents.