Qodratollah Nasiri, director of research, technology and domestic manufacturing at the National Petrochemical Company (NPC), said years of experience and a longstanding emphasis on self-sufficiency laid the groundwork for domestic production well before sanctions were imposed. He noted that a “we can” culture had already taken root in the manufacture of equipment, catalysts and chemical materials, and accelerated under sanctions as industry leaders placed greater trust in local capabilities.

Nasiri said supportive legislation, the expansion of NTBFs and implementation of the Tech-Based Production Leap Law have further enabled broad cooperation with domestic manufacturers. Today, he said, more than 1,700 firms collaborate with the sector, with significant funding directed to capacity building last year.

Import Substitution Plan

Nasiri said a list of imported goods has been compiled in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade and Iran’s Customs Administration, alongside a five-year plan to domestically produce most of those items. All manufacturers must meet strict industry standards and undergo continuous evaluation by experts, he said, adding that a list of companies whose products have been used successfully will be published soon.

Trust in domestic engineers and manufacturers has been the key to success, Nasiri said, noting that adopting first-of-its-kind products requires courage, foresight and full compliance with safety and international standards. Given the industry’s sensitivity, he said, locally made products enter operations only after passing rigorous tests.

He cited Petronouri as an example, saying the company has fully localized 29 chemical materials and catalysts over the past two to three years. He also pointed to the methanol-to-propylene and polypropylene project under way in Eslamabad-e Gharb, developed with proprietary technology from the Petrochemical Research and Technology Co., as a case of turning knowledge into industrial output.

Technology Development Inevitable

Nasiri said sanctions influenced some technology priorities but stressed that technological advancement was inevitable regardless, driven by global competition and environmental requirements such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and optimizing energy consumption. To accelerate progress, he said, specialized petrochemical science and technology parks are being developed in operational regions to foster innovation ecosystems.

He described the Petrochemical Technology Development Document as a roadmap aligned with national energy policies, the resistance economy framework, the Knowledge-Based Production Leap Law and sector development plans. Its goals include completing value chains, increasing value added, identifying and producing strategic items, deepening localization, advancing new technologies and enhancing global competitiveness.

Nasiri said the Tech-Based Production Leap Law is among the most comprehensive innovation-support measures, adding that the Oil Ministry backs firms through mechanisms such as the Oil Industry Science and Technology Park, research and technology funds, close cooperation with the vice presidency for science and technology, and the allocation of projects and facilities. The aim, he said, is to strengthen companies capable of offering competitive products regionally and globally, noting that several knowledge-based firms now export products, including catalysts.

Building Global Competitiveness

Nasiri said a list of critical and sensitive equipment is being prepared based on resilience principles across the petrochemical industry. The objective, he emphasized, is not isolation but strengthening domestic capabilities to compete globally, including through technology transfer from reputable foreign companies in national projects to help Iranian firms acquire and localize advanced know-how.

Citing data from the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, Nasiri said localization progress in many petrochemical manufacturing fields exceeds 70%. He noted that electricity and instrumentation remain areas needing special attention, with programs being developed to build domestic capacity.

With stable feedstock supply, full implementation of the technology development roadmap, an established innovation system and strong support for knowledge-based companies, universities and domestic manufacturers, Nasiri said the industry’s outlook is bright. Universities, experts and technology firms, he added, can play a central role not only in transferring technology but also in creating new technologies.