According to NPC, Hassan Abbaszadeh said Friday during a visit by members of Parliament’s oversight committee for the oil, gas and petrochemical industry that the complex plays a vital role in the nation’s energy sector. “Today was a truly gratifying day for me, as I was present at the largest flare gas recovery project and one of the most extensive social responsibility initiatives of the oil industry,” he said.

Abbaszadeh said the Bidboland complex has brought most of its capacity online. “Based on the latest reports, the refinery is currently receiving 80% of its feedstock. Once flare gas collection is completed, capacity will reach 100%. This will allow the complex to fully support growth and development across the value-creating petrochemical industry.”

He highlighted the daily recovery of roughly 600 million cubic feet of flare gas as one of the project’s core targets. “This is among the president’s and the oil minister’s key directives, ensuring that valuable flare gas enters the production chain rather than being burned,” he said.

$5b invested in flare gas recovery

Abbaszadeh pointed to the development of a propane-to-propylene project next to the Bidboland complex. He said the project, now under active development, will accelerate further once new financing is secured through the issuance of foreign-currency Murabaha bonds and is expected to approach startup soon.

He added that the project will reduce raw material exports and create significant employment in the region, especially in downstream industries. He described polypropylene as one of the petrochemical sector’s most strategic products, with a broad value chain.

The CEO said total investment in the Bidboland project chain exceeds $5 billion, adding that flare gas collection and transmission alone—excluding refinery equipment—has cost $1.1 billion. “Fortunately, this segment of the project has made substantial progress,” he said.

A key step toward carbon-reduction commitments

Abbaszadeh said flare gas recovery is among the most complex operations in the oil industry. Some flares, he noted, have been in service for more than 70 years. Connecting them to the recovery network has required long-distance pipelines and multiple compressors. “Thanks to nonstop efforts by specialists, a large portion of these flares has now been connected,” he said.

He said the project involves collecting gas from 57 flares. So far, 14 have been extinguished, with their gas routed for processing. The remaining flares are being connected rapidly, and most operations are expected to be completed by the end of next year.

“This project alone fulfills a major share of Iran’s obligations in reducing carbon emissions and meeting environmental commitments,” he said.

1.5 bcf of gas recovery across four major projects

Abbaszadeh highlighted four major flare gas recovery projects, noting that together they will collect 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day, equivalent to 42 million cubic meters, significantly reducing the country’s gas supply imbalance.

He listed the projects as follows:

 Bidboland Persian Gulf, the largest flare recovery and processing project;

 The Persian Gulf Gas Refinery as the parent project;

 A flare gas recovery project in Behbahan and Khuzestan;

 A project to improve flare performance and supply feedstock to Maroun Petrochemical Co.

He said the Persian Gulf project alone recovers 240 million cubic feet of gas per day, most of which is already online and providing feedstock to the Bandar Imam petrochemical complexes.

Feedstock shortages leave 22% of industry capacity idle

Abbaszadeh said the biggest challenge of the petrochemical sector’s seventh development plan is feedstock supply. “Currently, 22% of petrochemical capacity is idle due to feedstock shortages. Flare gas recovery is the most reliable and sustainable solution to supplying feedstock for this strategic industry.”

He added that in the first year of the seventh plan, all assigned tasks for the petrochemical sector were completed. In the second year, 10 of the 15 targeted projects—intended to add 7 million tons of nominal capacity—have been completed, and another is expected to come online by June.

He also noted the implementation of gas-consumption optimization programs in cold provinces. Last year, pilot projects in five provinces, carried out with the participation of two petrochemical complexes, helped reduce consumption and secure feedstock. Similar projects are underway this year. He said switching power plant feedstock to LNG is also an important strategy for freeing up gas for the petrochemical sector.

Weekly presidential oversight to accelerate flare recovery

Abbaszadeh said the government is strongly focused on recovering associated petroleum gas. “The president holds special meetings with senior oil industry managers every Wednesday, stressing the need to expedite flare-related projects. This approach has significantly accelerated progress.”

He added that large teams of specialists are active across Ragh-Sefid, Ahvaz, Gostares, Omidieh and other areas, creating substantial direct and indirect employment and activating a chain of industrial and service opportunities in Khuzestan Province.

The CEO concluded by thanking investors and project teams. “Flare gas recovery not only secures feedstock for petrochemical complexes but also reduces air pollution in one of the country’s most sensitive provinces. This project is a valuable gift from the oil and petrochemical industry to the people of Khuzestan and neighboring regions.”