Ilam Gas Refining Company in Ilam Province has started using domestically manufactured molecular sieves and catalysts, which were previously imported from European companies, to support knowledge-based companies and facilitate their expansion, managing director of the refinery said.
“By collaborating with capable knowledge-based companies, the refinery has taken good measures in line with the policies of self-sufficiency to reduce dependence on foreign countries,” Rouhollah Nourian was also quoted as saying by the Oil Ministry’s news service.
Referring to chemicals used in the refinery, he said molecular sieves for the dehumidification unit, as well as aluminum and titanium catalysts for the sulfur and active carbon recycling unit, have been supplied by Iranian knowledge-based companies.
The refinery also plans to manufacture another 21 strategic items for the first time in the country, he added.
Nourian noted that 16 essential parts and equipment of the refinery, which were supplied by foreign companies in the past, have been indigenized by local experts and engineers.
Ilam Gas Refinery is the only supplier of gas in western Iran and provides feedstock to Ilam Petrochemical Company.
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.
Programs are underway to increase the output of all products at the refinery by 2025.
The construction of the second phase is expected to begin soon to help increase feedstock from the current 6.8 million cubic meters to 10.2 mcm for increasing the production of various byproducts.
With the completion of the development project, 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 production and sales of the five main products of Ilam Gas Refinery, namely methane, ethane, LPG, sulfur and gas condensates, have increased by about 86% in the last Iranian year (March 2021-22), compared to the year before.
Sulfur produced by the refinery with a purity of 99.98% is of the purest and highest quality produced in the country. The refinery produced 60,000 tons of sulfur last year, half of which was used by local industries and 30,000 tons were exported.
Ethane and over 1.3 million barrels of gas condensate produced by the refinery were supplied to Ilam Petrochemical Complex last year.
Ilam Gas Refinery injected 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas into the national grid last year.
