Bandar Imam Petrochemical Company plans to increase sales capacity from the current $1.2 billion per year to $2.5 billion a year over the next five years, the managing director of BIPC said.
“We also plan to expand the value chain of our products from the current 31 items to 40 products,” Sepahdar Ansarinik was also quoted as saying by the National Petrochemical Company’s news website.
“As one of the companies that plays an important role in the country's economy, BIPC has 8,000 employees working in 16 factories. The complex sells its products in domestic and foreign markets,” he added.
The company has recently completed studies to develop its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) unit by completing the chlorine value chain.
There is a yearly excess of 140,000 tons of ethylene dichloride (EDC) that is one of the important sources to produce vinylchloride monomer. The company sold the surplus EDC in the past, but studies show that it can be converted to PVC, a more value-added commodity that can help raise the company’s export revenues.
The PVC development plan will double BIPC’s annual output of 200,000 tons. With the implementation of the scheme within two years, in addition to meeting the needs of domestic industries, the feed needed for the development of downstream industries will be provided and the surplus will be exported to generate revenue.
An estimated 730,000 tons of PVC are produced in Iran per year.
PVC is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer (after polyethylene and polypropylene). About 40 million tons of PVC are produced annually.
It is a versatile material used in window frames, drainage pipe, water service pipe, medical devices, blood storage bags, cable and wire insulation, resilient flooring, roofing membranes, stationery, automotive interiors and seat coverings, footwear and packaging.
Largest in Middle East
BIPC is located on an area of about 270 hectares on the northwestern coast of the Persian Gulf in Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province.
Founded in 1973, it has become one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the Middle East.
With a long history of producing high-quality products and investing in innovation and sustainability, BIPC produces a wide range of petrochemical products, including ethylene, propylene, polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as various other derivatives such as butadiene, benzene and toluene. These products are used in a variety of industries, including plastics, textiles, automotive and construction.
The company's production capacity is estimated at 4 million tons per year. It is also the largest LPG producer in Iran.
In recent years, BIPC has invested heavily in expanding its production capacity and upgrading its facilities to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The company has also been involved in several joint ventures with international partners to develop new petrochemical projects in Iran and other countries in the region.
Despite sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran’s energy sector, BIPC has continued its operations with the efforts of local engineers and experts, and has even managed to increase its exports to countries such as China, India and Turkey.
Last year, the company registered a record in one of its production units. The low-density polyethylene unit of the company has an annual design capacity of 100,000 tons but last year, the company had a 12% increase in the unit’s production.
The company has promoted the development of southwestern Khuzestan Province as one of the two important poles of the country’s petrochemical industry and most importantly, by creating added value and preventing the burning of flare gas.
