Javad Owji made the remarks in a nationwide session of Health, Safety and the Environment (HSE) top managers and chiefs.

The country’s oil industry is in dire need of discipline while carrying out operations, underlined the minister, adding, “It is necessary to pay due attention to HSE [standards] in all stages, including designing, manufacturing, installing, and pre-commissioning.”  

The oil industry ranks first in Iran in terms of enforcing HSE standards, he said, however urging managers to promote their technical know-how by using others’ experiences and achieve the global level.

Owji said industrialists have made every effort to apply HSE standards and carry out routine maintenance of the equipment, some of which were installed 50 or 60 years ago.

Given the sanctions imposed on Iran, more than 75 percent of equipment needed by the country’s oil industry are supplied by domestic manufacturers, boasted the minister, adding good management, effective supervision, and on-time overhaul helped the sector produce at maximum level incessantly last year, particularly during the unprecedented winter weather.

Shifting to the measures the oil industry carries out to protect the environment, he assured that no project is permitted without environmental considerations.  

The Ministry of Petroleum has taken large steps toward protecting the environment by speeding up the implementation of the projects of collecting associated petroleum gas (APG) in southern Iran, Owji stated.

Flare gas is a national asset and can be converted to a product with added value – feedstock of petrochemical complexes, he noted.

The minister pointed to the launching of the $1.4 billion project of Persian Gulf Hoveyzeh Gas Refining Company and continued, “All associated petroleum gases in West Karoun fields, including Azadegan, Yaran, Yadavaran, and Jofeir) will be gathered. In the first phase of the project, 250 million cubic feet of APG will be processed, and it would hit 500 million cubic feet when the second phase becomes operational.”

According to him, operations are underway to collect East Karoun fields’ APG and process at Persian Gulf Bidboland Gas Refining Company.

In addition, the NGL 3100 project will be inaugurated in Dehloran, western province of Ilam, by mid-March 2024, the minister pledged.

APG collection has been all the time underlined by the Leader and the government, he mentioned.  

Owji also put great emphasis on creating green spaces during the implementation of the projects, urging HSE managers to take safety measures and pay due heed to rules and regulations regarding the danger area surrounding oil and gas pipelines.

Touching upon the improving of quality of oil products, he said the first project the 13th (Raeisi) administration is implementing is ready for inauguration at Isfahan Refinery.

When the project is launched, 15 million liters of Euro 5 diesel will be added to the country’s output.