Speaking in a weekly cabinet session, the minister added, “In addition to the five projects, several projects suspended since 2004 and 2006 were decided and their implementation resumed.”

The project of Hamedan Ibn Sina Petrochemical Company, which was approved during a visit of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to the western province in 2004, had been left undecided, explained Owji, saying the project is now in progress as the incumbent government allocated $1 billion to it.

In spite of the public investment made by 98,000 people, Zanjan Petrochemical Company had been among the pending projects since 2006, the top official recalled and added the project operations restarted and its progress has reached 53 percent from 18 percent.

Golestan, Torbat Heidarieh, and Boroujen petrochemical projects were among underway projects the minister named.

Owji said the three projects will help prevent the sale of raw materials, generate revenues in foreign currency, and create job opportunities.