The Italian Saipem, a subsidiary of the energy company Eni, is willing to cooperate with Iran on constructing MTBE units in petrochemical industry, Saipem’s deputy for technology said on Monday.
“We await the lifting of sanctions to come back to Iran and build MTBE factories, whose knowhow is one of Saipem’s modern technologies,” Maura Berianeti was quoted as saying by Shana on the sidelines of a specialized session at Iran Petrochemical Forum in Tehran.
Methyl tert-butyl ether (aka MTBE) is a gasoline additive used as an oxygenate to raise the octane number.
IPF gathered the representatives of 368 domestic and 97 foreign companies from 25 countries in Tehran on Sunday to introduce Iran’s petrochemical opportunities in the post-sanctions period.
Referring to the Italian company’s history of oil and petrochemical operations in Iran over the past 35 years, Berianeti said Saipem has implemented 24 onshore and 13 offshore projects in Iran’s oil industry. She further said petrochemical companies such as those in Shiraz, Bandar Imam, Kermanshah and also many methanol projects were made operational by the company.
“By gaining 27 licenses in C4 and C5 hydrocarbons, as well as having experience in environmental and modernization grounds, Saipem can transfer the knowhow into the Iranian petrochemical industry,” she added.
Masahiro Yamada, the Japanese Marubeni’s deputy for petrochemical sector, told IRNA that the company is holding negotiations with Iran over modernization of technologies in methanol production units.
Referring to the $400 million annual trade between the company and Iran, Yamada said Marubeni purchased $300 million worth of petrochemicals from Iran last year and exported them to Malaysia, China, Singapore and Japan.
“As Iran’s oil and petrochemical industries are expected to regain their pre-sanctions position by February, we have held negotiations with Iranian officials from public and private sectors on making investment in Iran,” he added.
Yamada said since ethylene is the most important material in the petrochemical industry and currently markets are facing shortages of ethylene, conditions are ripe for Iran’s comeback to the global markets.
Another official speaking to Shana in an IPF specialized session, Eduardo Neto, the Roland Berger’s chief of Middle East centers, said Iran will make remarkable progress in petrochemical industry compared to its regional neighbors, provided it cooperates with global players and foreign investors.
“ With a focus on developing downstream industries, Iran can play an effective role in the world’s petrochemical markets by 2030,” the German company’s representative said, adding that to develop its downstream industries, the Persian Gulf country has no way but to employ modern technologies and finance.
Jean-Paul Legere, the French Technip’s deputy CEO, said it is an appropriate time to venture into the Iranian petrochemical industry, especially in ethylene production.
Iran has employed French knowhow in implementing projects of Arya Sasol Polymer Company and Jam Petrochemical Company, both in Asaluyeh in Bushehr Province, according to the French Official.
