Shahla Loni, emphasizing the requirements for achieving the goals of the Seventh Development Plan, stressed the key role of investment in expanding the country’s refining capacity. She noted that with the designation of the Iranian year 1404 (2025-26) as the "Year of Investment for Production" and the Seventh Development Plan’s target of 8% economic growth, increasing production capacity—especially in energy, specifically refining and distribution—is a critical prerequisite. This can only be achieved through targeted investment and the use of financial tools and facilitative regulations.

Loni stated that fulfilling the objectives of Article 45 of the Seventh Development Plan is a key pathway to boosting refining capacity in line with the plan’s quantitative targets. She added that the National Oil Refining and Distribution Company, as a driver of the country’s energy supply chain and a fuel provider for major industries like steel, power plants, and transportation, plays a fundamental role. Accordingly, the company has prioritized investments in refining capacity expansion, product quality improvement, and the development of transfer, distribution, and storage infrastructure in 1404.

Regarding the Seventh Development Plan’s quantitative goals, Loni said that under Table 8 of Article 42, daily gasoline production must reach 129 million liters and gas oil 130 million liters, with heavy refining products accounting for 20% of total output by the plan’s end. Achieving these targets requires constructing new refineries, upgrading refining quality, and implementing connection, distribution, and storage infrastructure projects. Refineries must also align with the Clean Air Act’s requirements and prioritize standard fuel production.

Road transport: A costly, high-risk challenge in fuel supply chain 

Loni addressed challenges in oil product transportation, noting that road transport not only poses safety risks and high fuel costs but also imposes heavy freight expenses on the company’s budget. Investing in crude and product pipeline development would reduce transport costs, save fuel, and enhance safety. Savings from these measures could then fund additional pipeline projects.

She pointed to legal provisions in the Seventh Development Plan and annual budgets to finance refining projects, adding that the "Law on Removing Barriers to Competitive Production and Improving the Financial System" enables diverse financial tools and investment attraction. Infrastructure projects will also leverage Article 12 of this law.

Loni announced the introduction of 24 refining and distribution investment opportunities, along with fuel consumption management plans, during the "Transformation in Investment and Development in Iran’s Oil and Gas Upstream" event. These opportunities will be formally unveiled at the specialized conference, "Transformation in Investment and Development in Refining and Petrorefining," on Ordibehesht 2 (April 22) from 1:00 to 5:30 PM at the Summit Conference Hall of Tehran.

The conference will cover investment prospects in refining, distribution, and petrorefining, as well as financing tools in money and capital markets. Attendees will include officials from the Central Bank, capital market, and Energy Exchange.

Speakers will include:

- Mohammad-Ali Dadvar, Deputy CEO of NIORDC 

- Keramat Veys-Karami, CEO of NIORDC 

- Mohammad Meshkinfam, CEO of National Iranian Oil Engineering and Construction Company 

- Shahla Loni, Investment Director of NIORDC 

- Javad Behshadi, Integrated Planning Director of NIORDC 

- Ali Naqavi, CEO of Iran Energy Exchange 

- Mostafa Omid-Qaemi, CEO of Kardan Investment Bank 

- Mohammad-Sadeq Azimifar, Deputy Oil Minister for Refining and Distribution 

The "Transformation in Investment and Development in Iran’s Oil and Gas Upstream" event will take place on Ordibehesht 2 (April 22) at the Summit Conference Hall, featuring over 200 upstream investment opportunities. Attendees will include political and economic officials as well as oil and gas industry leaders.