Aromatics are unsaturated hydrocarbons with several active benzene circles. Their stability is due to their resonant electrons. They are fragrant and that is why they are called aromatics. Due to their widespread use in detergents, resins, insecticides and military industries, aromatics have a special status in the petrochemical industry. Isfahan Petrochemical Complex is the first aromatic producer in Iran. Located on 165 ha of land and five kilometers away from the central city of Isfahan, the complex has an industrial site measuring 60 ha. Managing-director of the complex Mr Ali Mostajeran comments on the activities and programs. Q: Why was the Isfahan Petrochemical Complex established and has it reached its goals? A: The first aromatics producer in Iran, the Isfahan Petrochemical Complex was established in 1992 to offer more than 300,000 tons of products year and meet national needs. It is near the industrial city of Isfahan and at short distance from LAB and DMT. The complex has so far meet needs of these two industrial giants and more than 400 medium and small sized industries. Q: What does the Isfahan Petrochemical Complex produce? A: It produces 55,650 tons of benzene, 71,580 tons of toluene, 44,000 tons of paraxylene, 22,000 tons of orthoxylene and 75,000 tons of xylene per year. The firm can raise its production by 131 percent. Q: What are your development projects for the future? A: We have three development projects to launch in the near future. We are also following up a project for multi-purpose distillation section. Phenol and acetone are not produced in the Middle East and we are determined to do so. The Khuzestan Petrochemical Complex is to consume 30,000 tons of phenol and 12,000 tons of acetone per annum to produce epoxy resins and polycarbonates. To this effect, we had problem with procurement of propylene and now this problem has been resolved. We will soon send the tender documents to the bidders. We are finalizing a deal for an annul production of 40,000 tons of PA. Q: How much do the products cost? A: Domestic sales and exports yield around 70 million dollars per annum. Exports account for 40 percent of the revenues. We are supposed to raise the figure to around 85 million dollars this year. Q: What industries use you products? A: Detergents, resins, glues, artificial tissues, polyesters, polyekrils, poisons, insecticides and military industries. Q: Where are they consumed now? A: Isfahans LAB uses our benzene to produce detergents while Tabriz Petrochemical Complex produces ethylene from our benzene. Orthoxyelne is sold to the Farabi Petrochemical Complex and our paraxylene is used by DMT. Producers of resin and military centers purchase our toluene and producers of poisons use our xylene. Nearly 40 percent of our annual 170,000-ton production is allocated for exports to the Southeast Asia. Q: How do you feed the complex? A: Isfahans Oil Refining Company feeds the complex. We need 363,000 tons per annum of food. I regret to say that we have faced shortages in the past two years because the refinery has had to produce gasoline. Q: How much investment has the complex drawn? A: Financial facilities from Bank Tejarat and Bank Melli, the state Pension Fund, domestic petrochemical industries and credit allocation for development projects have so far served the complex. The complex was a private entity in 1989 but it became a public joint stock company in 1997. Two years later on it floated its hares on the Tehran Stock Exchange. In 2000, the company doubled its capital to 40 billion rials and four years on the figure jumped to 100 billion rials. Stockholders are as follows: The State Pensions Fund with 33 percent, the Social Security Organization with 32 percent, individuals with a total of 25 percent, Astan-e Qods Razavi with 1.9 percent, Sepah Investment Company with 5.38 percent, Iran National Investment Company with 1.17 percent and the Farhangian Investment Company with 1.02 percent. Q: What has the company done for its environmental and security affairs? A: The Isfahan Petrochemical Company was the first entity affiliated with the Ministry of Oil and the fourth company in the country to receive its ISO 14001 from the SGS of Britain. In 2001, we established the OHSAS-18001 and got a certificate from the DNV. We take pride in secure working. We have had ISO 9001 and 9002 quality certificate. Q: How many personnel do you have? A: We have 493 employees with 15-year record. (Mashal, December 2004)