Bu Ali Sina Petrochemical Company in Khuzestan Province produced 610,000 tons of benzene in the last Persian calendar year (March 2020-2021) up 8% compared to the previous year, the commercial manager said.
“The increase has made Iran self-reliant in benzene and ended the need to import this chemical used in the produce detergents and hygiene products,” the Oil Ministry news agency Shana quoted Ardalan Sedaqatzadeh as saying.
As the coronavirus spreads death and destruction across the globe with the worst still to come, the need for detergents has increased by leaps and bounds, the manager added.
Viruses such as coronavirus can spread by hand contact. Many people often touch their nose or mouth with their hands, without even noticing.
One key recommendation to prevent spread of the deadly virus is to strictly follow health and hygiene protocols including washing hands regularly, which prevents people from spreading pathogens (micro-organisms such as viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites that can cause illness). By Sunday Iran reported 2.4 million infections and 70,000 deaths.
The sanctions-battered country had difficulty importing benzene in the past, but with Bu Ali Sina Company on fast track detergent manufacturers can better meet their raw material needs and increase output.
Iran is under an economic blockade since 2018 after Donald Trump, the bellicose US president, unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and imposed a new and tougher round of sanctions.
President Joe Biden is expected to seek the restoration of the accord and officials in Tehran have expressed the hope that he will ease restrictions on oil exports – the lifeline of Iran’s economy.
“In addition to ending benzene import we have started exports,” Sedaqatzadeh said.
Benzene is among the top 20 chemicals in terms of production volume. Besides being used in the production of detergents, some industries use benzene to make other chemicals used to make plastics, resins, nylon and synthetic fibers. Benzene is also used to make some types of lubricants, rubbers, dyes, drugs, and pesticides.
Sedaqatzadeh noted that the company also increased its output of light naphtha, heavy naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas last year by 22%, 7% and 7% respectively compared to the previous year.
Bu Ali Sina Petrochemical Company annually produces 350,000 tons of light naphtha. This hydrocarbon liquid is supplied to domestic and foreign markets as the feed for olefin units. The company also produces 500,000 tons of heavy naphtha that is sold in the local and international markets to be used in the production of gasoline, kerosene, and industrial solvents.
A subsidiary of the National Petrochemical Company, Bu Ali Sina Company opened in 1998 in Mahshahr, Khuzestan. It processes gas condensate as feedstock to produce an estimated 1.75 million tons of aromatic products a year including benzene, paraxylene, raffinate and heavy naphtha, light naphtha and liquid petroleum gas.
The petrochem company’s products are supplied to Bandar-e-Imam Khomeini, Shahid Tondguyan, Amir Kabir, Pars, and Karun petrochemical companies and also exported to the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
