Speaking at an inauguration ceremony for 800 kilometers of product pipelines, Paknejad said that based on planning, 2,900 kilometers of oil and product pipelines will be completed and become operational by the end of the country's seventh development plan.

Paknejad highlighted the national importance of pipelines for sustainable development and energy security. He noted that while over 70% of the country's gasoline is produced in the south, more than 80% is consumed in the northern half, making reliable fuel transfer critical.

He stated that transferring products via road tankers increases air pollution, the risk of road accidents and fuel consumption. Pipeline development, he said, facilitates faster transfer and has positive environmental effects, including reduced fuel consumption, fewer road hazards and less fuel smuggling.

The planned pipeline network includes over 600 kilometers for crude oil and 2,300 kilometers for petroleum products, representing a total investment of approximately 128 million euros and 37 trillion tomans.

Projects Inaugurated:

Bandar Abbas-Rafsanjan Pipeline: This 455-kilometer, 26-inch pipeline includes three pump stations, a storage terminal, 100 kilometers of power transmission lines and three electrical substations. It is designed to transfer 300,000 barrels (48 million liters) per day of products from southern refineries to central regions, doubling the transfer capacity from Bandar Abbas and the Persian Gulf Star refineries. It is expected to eliminate the need for 1,600 road tanker trips daily, saving an estimated 6 trillion tomans per year in transportation costs. It began initial operation at a capacity of 13 million liters per day, with plans to reach full capacity by the end of the year.

Sarzab-Shazand Pipeline: This project includes 102 kilometers of 30-inch pipeline and 239 kilometers of 26-inch pipeline. It features five pump stations, a storage terminal, two balancing tanks, 43 kilometers of power transmission lines and four electrical substations. Its sections have capacities of 450,000 and 300,000 barrels per day, respectively. This pipeline will, for the first time, allow for the transfer of sour crude from northern Dezful fields to feed refineries. It also provides operational flexibility for directing flow to multiple destinations or strategic storage in emergencies, enhancing the energy network's resilience.

Paknejad emphasized the use of domestic expertise, noting that 30-inch pipes meeting the NACE standard for high hydrogen sulfide-sulfide stress cracking resistance were produced domestically for the first time for these projects. Over 95% of the equipment was sourced from local manufacturing. The projects directly created 3,000 jobs and indirectly created 7,000 jobs.

The minister concluded by thanking all managers, specialists and experts who contributed to the completion of the two projects.