Esmaeil Qaderi, head of operations at the refinery, said all production commitments for the year were fully met and even exceeded. “During the four cold months, we achieved the most continuous gas production among all refineries nationwide — without a single moment of interruption,” he told Shana.

Located in the harsh climate of northeastern Iran, where freezing winters, scorching summers and sandstorms test both personnel and equipment, the Khangiran facility has sustained reliable operations for more than four decades. It is one of the oldest and most vital processing units of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), ensuring stable gas supply to the country’s eastern regions.

Qaderi said the refinery’s greatest achievement over the past year was maintaining production stability while also expanding output beyond natural gas and sulfur to include condensate-derived products such as kerosene, naphtha, solvent and gas oil.

 Technical innovation, operational efficiency

“Given the refinery’s more than 40 years of operation, it would have been decommissioned by now without innovation,” Qaderi said. Employees have submitted around 200 proposals to boost and sustain production, enabling the refinery to operate at 20% above its original design capacity with stable, continuous output.

He noted that Khangiran is the only gas refinery in eastern Iran, while others are concentrated in the south and west and can support one another in emergencies. “This isolation requires meticulous planning to ensure production continuity,” he said.

The refinery has also made major environmental advances, including establishing 10 waste separation stations to promote recycling and reducing daily water consumption from 4,000 to 2,500 cubic meters through reuse and recirculation — a savings of 1,500 cubic meters per day, even as capacity has doubled.

 Toward zero flaring, energy optimization

Qaderi said the refinery has implemented measures to improve energy efficiency and cut fuel losses. “We are committed to maintaining our energy consumption index (SEC) at or below the national benchmark,” he said. “We also launched our Zero Flaring program about five years ago — ahead of many other refineries — to curb gas emissions and improve environmental performance.”

He highlighted ongoing safety challenges, noting that the facility handles one of the most sour and toxic gas feeds in Iran. “Given the 40-year age of the installations, safety, inspection and maintenance receive the highest priority. Even a minor gas leak could cause serious human and equipment damage, so we show zero tolerance for any negligence — from contractors or our own personnel,” he said.

Qaderi praised the strong coordination between the operations and maintenance departments. “Operations continuously monitor process equipment and issue maintenance requests, which are then executed to standard by repair teams,” he said. “Despite harsh local conditions — extreme heat, bitter cold and sandstorms — the spirit of teamwork and camaraderie here is remarkable.”

 Workforce motivation, training

The operations chief said management maintains close contact with staff to boost morale. “We conduct daily visits, listen to employees and follow up on their concerns wherever possible. Colleagues also support one another, which fosters motivation,” he said.

Training plays a central role in maintaining safety and performance. In addition to formal programs, the refinery practices a mentorship model, where junior staff gain hands-on experience with key equipment such as turbines, amine circulation pumps and gas compressors.

Qaderi emphasized that training has helped build a strong safety culture. “Despite the age of our equipment and the hazards of refinery gas, our safety indicators remain excellent. Unsafe practices are simply not tolerated — employees themselves prevent them. Safety has become deeply ingrained in our culture,” he said.