The system, called the Samap Petrochemical Product Technical Specification System, was introduced during the IranPlast international exhibition. NPC CEO Hassan Abbaszadeh said the platform will increase flexibility for downstream industries by providing clear and unified product data.

In his remarks, Abbaszadeh referenced recent national directives, stating, "It is imperative for the country to move beyond a state of 'neither war nor peace.' Holding exhibitions and similar actions demonstrates the necessity of increasing activities in the fields of production and the economy."

He emphasized the petrochemical industry's resilience, noting that even during recent periods of conflict, production continued with strict safety measures in place. "Now that we have passed those conditions, we must set aside the emergency state and move with full power toward the continuity of production and economic development," Abbaszadeh said.

He identified the development of the polymer sector as central to the petrochemical industry's future, citing its higher value-added potential. Iran's current polymer production capacity is nearly 9 million tons, a figure expected to rise to 10 million tons this year with new projects coming online. Capacity is planned to reach 16 million tons by the end of the country's seventh development plan.

System aims to resolve data discrepancies

Mohammad Motaqi, NPC's director of downstream industry development, called Samap a milestone for standardizing industrial data. He explained that the system was conceived in 2021 to solve a significant challenge: product specifications were previously managed through a manual, paper-based process that was lengthy and often resulted in inconsistent or contradictory data.

"With the launch of Samap, this problem is fundamentally resolved," Motaqi said. "All petrochemical companies are now required to register their products with standard specifications on the system. This gives buyers access to precise, unified information."

NPC's Research and Technology team consolidated over 1,500 standards and physical/chemical specifications for polymer products to create the system. It establishes a single industrial datasheet for each product grade, which buyers can access directly. Motaqi stated this should eliminate past disputes in downstream industries caused by product specification differences. The next phases will include chemical products and the establishment of a reference laboratory.

Building on technical self-sufficiency

Naser Noahjah, CEO of Petrochemical Research and Technology Co., which developed the system, said Samap streamlines data access for downstream sectors. He noted his company's role in achieving self-sufficiency in polyolefin process technologies over the past 26 years and its ongoing work in developing domestic catalysts and new polymer grades.

"Samap eliminates complex bureaucracy, unifies product specifications and facilitates downstream industries' access to accurate data," he said. He confirmed that expanding the system to cover chemical products is the next step.

Officials expressed hope that the new system will resolve longstanding industry challenges and pave the way for the sustainable development of Iran's downstream and overall petrochemical value chain.