Arsalan Zare spoke on the sidelines of a visit by caretaker oil minister, Hamid Bovard, to the damaged South Pars refineries.

Oil industry workers began fighting fires within the first hours after what Zare described as an attack by the enemy on the facilities, he said. After expert assessments, they began clearing debris in the following days.

Zare said crews kept working through the summer in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius and humidity above 70%, and that the effort continues around the clock.

He said he has visited oil industry workers in Bushehr province and on Kharg Island and has never heard them complain about the hardships of the work.

Ministry support

Zare said the Oil Ministry has not fallen short in providing equipment, materials and support for the repairs, though building some of the needed equipment naturally takes time.

Appeal to the public

"Just as people cooperated with the government last winter, we expect them to help again this year through efficient energy use," Zare said.

Bovard was accompanied on the tour by Zare and Musa Ahmadi, head of the parliament's Energy Commission. The group also visited the Jam Petrochemical Co. and the Mobin Persian Gulf Energy complex. At the third, fourth, fifth and sixth South Pars refineries, Bovard reviewed the progress of reconstruction.