Iran can accelerate its petrochemical industries by reliance on its huge gas reserves and the country has focused on this objective in the past years. Petrochemical industries can bring huge revenues into the country and create job opportunities. The Pars Special Economic Energy Zone took shape in 1998 to help to an optimal use of gas reserves in the offshore South Pars Gas Field. A number of projects are under way in this zone. 9th Olefin The ninth olefin project is underway by Polymer Arya Sasol with 50 percent stake owned by each. The plant will produce 90,000 tons carbon, 300,000 tons medium and heavy polyethylene and 300,000 tons low-density polyethylene per year. Its products will be used for making home appliances, films, dishes, industrial parts, pipe, bags, and cable covering. The main feedstock for the ninth olefin project includes ethane, propane, hexane, and propylene to be supplied by Pars Petrochemical Company and other domestic sources as well as through imports. 10th Olefin The 10th olefin project is being implemented by Jam Petrochemical Company. The project is the worlds biggest olefin project. Total credits allocated to the project stand at 13,419 billion rials including 1,225 million dollars and 3,190 billion rials. The 10th olefin plant will produce 1.32 million tons ethylene, 320,000 tons propylene, 300,000 tons heavy and light linear polyethylene, 300,000 tons heavy polyethylene, 300,000 tons polypropylene as well as 443,000 tons various kinds of ethylene glycols per annum when in full swing. The products will be used as feed for downstream industries such as carpet and moquette industries, solvents, paint and various kinds of plastics. 4th Aromatic The fourth aromatic project, the worlds biggest aromatic enterprise, is being implemented by Borzouyeh Petrochemical Company. Borzouyeh Petrochemical Company has spent 723.4 billion rials as well as 67.5 million dollars in the project during 11 months of the current Iranian calendar year. The 4th aromatic plant will be capable of annual production of 4.779 million tons various petrochemicals including 750,000 tons paraxylene, 430,000 tons benzene and 100,000 tons orthoxylene when fully operational. Feedstock for the plant includes 270,000 tons benzene pyrolysis and 4.5 million tons gas condensate per year to be supplied by phases1, 2, and 3 of South Pars gas field. 4th & 6th Methanol The fourth methanol project is underway at Zagros Petrochemical Company. Total investment in the first phase of the fourth methanol project has been set at 9.183 billion rials during the said month while total investment in the project last year stood at 607.442 billion rials. The first phase of the fourth methanol project will produce 1.65 million tons petrochemical products per year and its primary feedstock, which comprises natural gas and oxygen, will be supplied by Mobin Petrochemical Company. Methanol is used as solvent in downstream industries including industries producing resins, adhesives, various kinds of plastics, and diesel fuel and is also used to produce MTBE (an additive that increasing octane number of gasoline). Germanys Lurgi supplies technical know-how and main equipment with Irans PIDEC is in charge of detailed engineering and purchasing domestic equipment. Fertilizer Plant Ammonia and urea project is handled by Ghadir Petrochemical Company. The second phase of the project is to yield 75,000 tons ammonia, 1.075 million tons urea and 10,000 tons ammonia sulfate per year, which will be used in agriculture. Total investment in the project has been estimated at 220 million dollars and 500 billion rials. The feedstock for the plant includes 670 million cu. m. natural gas per year to be supplied by Pars Oil and Gas Company. 11th Olefin The project is 20 percent owned by the National Petrochemical Company, 20 percent by the West Petrochemical Company and 60 percent by Gachsaran Petrochemical Company, Lorestan Petrochemical Company, Kermanshah Polymer Company, Kurdestan Petrochemical Company and Mahabad Petrochemical Company. It would be in the running in three years. Expected to produce 1.29 million tons a year of products, the project feeds on 1,500 tons of ethane a year. This project is supposed to save 300 million dollars. The project is estimated to yield 1.5 million dollars a year from its products. The plant will be built by Germanys Linde, South Koreas Hyundai, and Irans Sazeh companies at the cost of 960 million euros as two separate projects. Every unit will be capable of annual production of 1.2 million tons ethylene. 12th Olefin The National Petrochemical Company has offered a tender for this project on 123 ha of land. With an annual capacity of 4.9 million tons, the project will provide products for the downstream industries. The Persian Gulf Petrochemical Company is to operate the project in this zone. The Petrochemical Industries Development Management Company will tender the project before giving it to the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Company for implementation. The relevant tender bid has been renewed because the project has not received any response from abroad.