Speaking in a ceremony to start the executive operations of a petrochemical project in Bijar, northwestern province of Kurdestan, Morteza Shahmirzaei added domestic petrochemical industry’s installed capacity now stands at 92 mt/y while it was around 1.5 mt/y in 1979, the year of the Islamic Revolution’s victory.

The progress made in the country’s petrochemical industry shows the Islamic Republic’s power, said the NPC CEO, adding the production capacity would hit 180 mt/y by the end of the 8th Five-Year National Development Plan (2026-2030).

Pointing to sanctions imposed on different sectors, he said the enemy has attempted to prevent Iran from becoming a strong and big power but it failed due to people and officials’ efforts.

Shahmirzaei added 72 petrochemical complexes are now operating in Iran.

According to him, petrochemical exports fetch the country $16 billion annually and 110 petrochemical projects are underway in different parts of the country.