Speaking at the Third Petrotech Conference on Sunday, Touraj Dehqani added that these achievements should serve as a benchmark for evaluating future projects.

He emphasized the rapid pace of scientific and technological advancements, urging Iran to leverage its vast potential to meet current national needs. Despite existing infrastructure and capacities, he noted that the economy has not grown as expected, highlighting structural issues.

Dehqani, who focused on the technological narrative of the Goreh-Jask crude oil pipeline project, detailed the $2 billion pipeline designed to transport 1 million barrels per day of Iranian crude. Despite sanctions and the inability to execute foreign contracts, the project advanced through domestic collaboration, particularly in sourcing essential materials like pipes. In 2019, Iran achieved its first sour service casting, marking a technological leap.

He explained that foreign companies refused to supply essential materials, prompting the project to rely on domestic resources. The involvement of Mobarakeh Steel Company in Isfahan connected various segments of the supply chain to the oil industry.

The $2 billion project set a record for completing a large-scale project ahead of schedule, demonstrating the capabilities of Iran's oil sector. These achievements should be used as a benchmark for future evaluations to maximize technological potential.

The project includes 1,000 kilometers of 42-inch sour service pipelines, five 25-megawatt pumping stations, loading facilities, nearly 300 kilometers of power transmission lines, and 11 substations, reflecting the extensive work involved. Such large-scale projects can drive technological development and economic growth, Dehqani added.

He noted that the project demonstrated how direct initiatives can impact technological development, economic growth, and GDP. However, he lamented the lack of a clear benchmark for evaluating such successes, which has hindered the recognition of this achievement.

Goreh-Jask achievements as an evaluation model

Dehqani highlighted the significant efforts by oil industry colleagues in completing the Goreh-Jask crude oil pipeline, which set a record for finishing a major project ahead of schedule. The project's achievements should serve as a benchmark for future evaluations to better utilize technological capabilities.

Over 50 first-time products were produced by domestic partners in the oil industry for this project, underscoring the sector's capabilities. These accomplishments should be used as a standard for assessing future projects, Dehqani said.

The executive operations of this major oil project, which began in 2019, reached the oil delivery phase on the coast by July 2021. In its first phase, the project created a capacity of 350,000 barrels per day, with pipelines and power lines constructed. Completed in less than two years with 90% progress, the project set a record for the speed of oil project execution.

Oil exports without the Strait of Hormuz

Dehqani emphasized the project's reliance on domestic production, with over 95% of the required equipment and goods sourced locally. This not only utilized domestic capabilities but also fostered further development and integration of local capacities.

One of the project's key achievements is the creation of a daily export capacity of 1 million barrels of oil without relying on the Strait of Hormuz. However, Dehqani noted that the project has not been sufficiently highlighted, despite Iran's 20-year vision aiming for regional leadership in the oil industry, a goal yet to be realized.

He added that achieving this goal requires defining and pursuing a specific annual economic growth rate. If Iran had set clear economic development targets and focused on increasing annual income rather than broad priorities, its economy could now be worth over $1.5 trillion.

Major global economies achieve sustainable growth through the proper combination of resources, technology, capital, and management. In Iran, however, many resources are controlled by the government, creating obstacles to development.

High investment needs in oil industry

Dehqani identified complex decision-making processes and inflexible policies as fundamental issues. In some cases, regulatory processes have hindered timely key decisions, leading to missed opportunities. Oil industry experts believe that even under tough economic conditions, focusing on domestic capabilities can overcome obstacles and accelerate economic growth.

He stressed that Iran's oil industry, with 123 years of history, is one of the largest in the world and requires significant investment. Estimates suggest the industry needs $20 to $30 billion annually to achieve optimal productivity.

The reliance on steel imports and the inability to produce some key equipment domestically have created challenges. However, this project demonstrated that with proper planning and a focus on domestic production, many of these obstacles can be overcome. Ultimately, the efforts of Iranian experts and engineers enabled the domestic steel industry to produce some of the necessary equipment for the oil sector.