The managing director of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC), Jalil Salari, made the remarks adding “Thirty years ago, we were in dire need of catalysts, and while under sanctions we used to refer to Indian companies to get help, but we moved forward step by step and managed to acquire the related know-how and finally used the domestically produced product successfully for the first time in isomerization unit of Arak Oil Refining Company.”

Speaking at "Technology Transfer and Local Production of Refining, Petrochemical and Gas Catalysts Conference" here today, he said that by acquiring the technical knowledge of producing catalysts, we started gasoline production, adding that the country now can export the products to other countries as well as use them overseas in oil refineries including El Palito cracking refinery in Venezuela.

The deputy minister of petroleum for refining said that the country was currently reliant on domestically made catalysts noting that the country’s need for catalysts is estimated at 26 thousand tons even though the needs are on the rise mainly due to launching upgrading fuel oil qualification units at oil refineries, a process that can lead to further cooperation between Iranian knowledge-based companies and the foreign partners.

 NIORDC managing director said: We are hoping to pave the way for producing other catalysts at home through a competitive process, and at the same time to export domestically produced catalysts, specifically to the neighboring countries.

A memorandum of understanding is on the verge of finalization that can pave the way for producing groups 5 and 6 of catalysts at home, Salari noted.