The production of ethane gas and liquefied petroleum gas at the Ilam Gas Refinery increased in the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 21-May 21), managing director of the refinery said.
“Ethane output has increased by 150% and LPG production has risen by 83% compared with the same period of last year,” Rouhollah Nourian was also quoted as saying by the Oil Ministry’s news agency Shana.
Ilam Gas Refinery is of strategic importance, as it is the only supplier of gas in the west of the country and the one that provides feedstock to Ilam Petrochemical Company, he added.
Annually, 130,000 tons of ethane, 230,000 tons of liquefied natural gas, 70,000 tons of sulfur and 1,350,000 barrels of gas condensate are produced in the complex.
According to the refinery’s managing director, ethane, gas condensate and liquefied gas are used as feedstock in Ilam Petrochemical Plant and have helped create more jobs in the western province.
Speaking about the refinery’s second phase, the construction of which will start in winter, he said the development project will help increase feedstock from 6.8 to 10.2 million cubic meters, which will help boost the production of various byproducts.
With the completion of the second phase, the refinery's products, including natural gas for urban and industrial use, sulfur, ethane, gas condensate and liquefied petroleum gas will increase by 1.5 times.
The output of all products is expected to rise 50% by 2025.
Last year (March 2021-22), the refinery supplied 1.5 billion cubic meters of refined gas to the national grid that was sold to households and industrial sectors in Ilam and neighboring provinces.
The refinery also produced 60,000 tons of sulfur last year, half of which was used by local industries and 30,000 tons were exported.
