Ahvaz Oil Desalting Complex will become operational by March 2016 in the southern Khuzestan Province, raising the country's crude processing capacity by 220,000 barrels per day, managing director of Karun Oil and Gas Production Company said.
"Ahvaz desalting facility is the biggest in the Middle East … The complex will increase the quality of oil output in Karun," Mohsen Dahanzadeh was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency on Saturday.
The desalting plant, initially planned for launch in mid-2013, is an integral part of the first development phase to raise West Karun's oil output by 700,000 bpd in a three-year timeframe.
Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said in October that West Karun oil output will reach 1 million barrels a day upon the completion of projects.
Last month, three major oil desalting projects were launched at Mansouri Oilfield with a processing capacity of 75,000 bpd as well as two desalting units at Lab-Sefid and Haft Shahidan oilfields with 30,000 bpd and 55,000 bpd processing capacities respectively.
The purpose of desalting is to remove impurities, especially salts and water, from crude oil prior to distillation.
Mansouri crude desalting complex was also slated for launch in 2012, but the project was reportedly delayed by financial constraints.
Several oil desalting projects are under construction with a total processing capacity 485,000 bpd, including Gachsaran 3 and Bibi Hakimeh in Kohgilouyeh-Boyerahmad Province with 110,000 bpd and 55,000 bpd processing capacities respectively.
