He said the delayed project was on the agenda of President Hassan Rouhani's government and thanked local and provincial officials for breaking the lock on its launching.

Rabiei said the refinery is a major project which can employ 650 workers directly and hundreds of people indirectly.

He hoped that the refinery can start its operation in due time so that it can boom the economy of the province.

The objective behind construction of Anahita Refinery has been refraining from selling crude oil, producing value-added material and meeting the demands of western parts of Iran to oil products.