Morteza Shahmirzaei, who is the National Petrochemical Company (NPC) managing director, made the announcement in a press conference on Wednesday and added the expected figure shows a 1.5-million-ton year-on-year increase.

The country produced 69.5 million tons of petrochemicals in the previous year (March 2022-March 2023), said the official, predicting the figure will top 75 million tons this year.

Shifting to the petrochemical plans, he said 12 projects, including Gachsaran Petrochemical Complex and Persian Gulf Hoveyzeh Gas Refinery, were inaugurated as pledged in the current Iranian year, adding other projects such as Arian Methanol, Petronad, Nakhl Asmari, and Hengam are ready for the official inauguration.

Shahmirzaei also touched upon the collection of flare gases and said most of associated gases are gathered in Persian Gulf Bidboland Gas Refinery, NGL 3200, and Persian Gulf Hoveyzeh Gas Refinery.

The NGL 3100 project in Dehloran, western province of Ilam, will become operational in the coming Iranian year, said the deputy oil minister, vowing NPC will capture all associated gases to prevent the burning of the national wealth.