The second phase of cooperation between the Petrochemical Research and Technology Company, a subsidiary of National Petrochemical Company, and four domestic universities and institutes will start by mid-March.
According to Shana, the Oil Ministry’s official news agency, NPC signed four contracts in the fiscal 2016-17 with Shiraz University, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tarbiat Modares University and the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran to acquire know-how in the petrochemical industry’s upstream and downstream sectors.
“Three of the academic centers have completed the first phase of the projects and the fourth is due to finish work in the next few weeks,” Esmaeil Qanbari, the head of PRTC, said on Saturday. "Based on the contracts, four institutions have been established to carry out research on olefins, propylene, methanol and polyolefin in five years," he added.
The official noted that about 1.2 trillion rials ($26.7 million) have been allocated for the research plans that are to be implemented in two phases.
“The first phase took six months to complete and the second is planned to be accomplished in 54 months,” he said.
Qanbari stressed that the second phase of the four projects comprises the construction of laboratories, design and building of the pilot plan, completing the know-how, preparing the economic aspects of the plan and designing the demonstration plan.
“The last stage of the phase [demonstration] is of the biggest importance,” Qanbari said.
International Ties
On the need to collaborate with foreign companies, the official underscored that cooperation with internationals would be necessary in the second phase, as the procedure becomes more complicated.
According to Qanbari, PRTC is currently participating in international research projects and negotiating and cooperating with renowned companies, such as Germany’s BASF, the world’s largest chemical company.
“Twelve other creditable companies have called for expanding cooperation with PRTC, which can be introduced to the four newly established institutions to help expedite the projects,” he said.
