Speaking on Wednesday evening during a live broadcast on state television’s 9 p.m. news program, Mohsen Paknejad highlighted the inauguration of the second phase of the Ahvaz desalination plant under the president’s order.

He said, “As you know, over time, the salt content in crude oil produced from wells increases, exceeding the standard levels required for export or delivery to refineries. This is why the oil industry requires desalination units to adjust the salt content in produced oil to acceptable standards.”

He added, “Today, under the directive of the honorable president, the second phase of the Ahvaz Central Desalination Plant, with a capacity of 110,000 barrels per day, was inaugurated. This will allow several oil wells that were previously unable to produce due to excessive salt content to resume production.”

The oil minister noted that 85% of the equipment used in the Ahvaz Central Desalination Plant was manufactured by Iranian industries and manufacturers.

He said, “With the inauguration of this project, daily crude oil production has already increased by 15,000 barrels and, God willing, will reach 40,000 barrels by the end of the year.”

Paknejad also discussed other ongoing projects in the oil sector that are nearing completion, stating, “We will soon witness the signing of several contracts in the oil industry. Additionally, previously signed contracts are moving toward implementation, and there is potential for the exchange and signing of memorandums of understanding, particularly in the petrochemical sector.”

The second phase of the Ahvaz Central Desalination Plant was inaugurated on Wednesday during the president’s visit to Khuzestan Province as part of his official trip.