Fajr Jam Gas Refinery, one of Iran’s oldest and most significant gas refining facilities, has played a major role in meeting the country’s energy needs and producing byproducts for nearly four decades. Originally built to process feed gas from the Nar and Kangan fields, the refinery has also received part of its feed from the South Pars field since the 2010s, contributing substantially to both domestic supply and exports. Its significance lies not only in production volume but also in its performance in energy optimization, efficiency improvement, and environmental compliance—making it a model facility in Iran’s gas refining industry.

According to Hamid Allahverdi, the refinery’s operations manager, the engineering and operations teams continuously review, approve, and implement optimization initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce energy use. These include process reviews, projects to cut chemical and steam consumption, and infrastructure upgrades such as replacing aging water and fire-safety pipelines, which have reduced resource loss and improved safety.

Upgrading Aging Infrastructure

Allahverdi highlighted the full replacement of underground water and fire pipeline systems as a major project. The refinery’s metallic water pipelines, in use for more than 35 years, had suffered corrosion and frequent leaks, wasting significant amounts of water. The replacement plan, launched three years ago, is divided into five phases. The fourth phase is currently underway and expected to be completed by the end of this year, with the fifth phase to follow. Quantitative assessments indicate a noticeable decline in water intake compared with previous years, demonstrating the effectiveness of these measures and their contribution to safety and resource management.

He also noted the refinery’s crucial role in domestic supply and exports of gas byproducts. Feed gas from Nar, Kangan, and South Pars is sweetened and injected into the national gas transmission network, while condensates and LPG are produced and exported. Fajr Jam Gas Refinery currently accounts for about 7 percent of Iran’s total processed gas output.

Focus on Environmental Protection

Recalling the refinery’s early years, Allahverdi said that in the early 2000s, before the South Pars refineries came online, Fajr Jam supplied nearly half of Iran’s refined gas. He added that gas condensates are exported by ship, while LPG is stored on-site and delivered domestically or exported under the National Iranian Gas Company’s supervision.

He emphasized that, as with all oil and gas facilities, environmental risks are inherent, but Fajr Jam has implemented effective mitigation measures. Water consumption, once about 20,000 cubic meters per day, has dropped to less than 2,000 cubic meters—a major indicator of improved environmental performance.

Allahverdi also said that the refinery has reduced flaring emissions. “Flaring occurs in two situations: one normal and necessary for safety, and another abnormal, which now accounts for less than one percent,” he said. “These results show the refinery’s strong commitment to environmental standards and minimizing the ecological impact of its production processes.”