During the floods that affected 24 provinces over the past four weeks, there was no major problem in providing refineries with oil and other petroleum products, said the director of petroleum supplies at the Iranian Oil Pipeline and Telecommunication Company.
Torrential rains and flash floods, which started March 19, damaged two pipelines, which transferred oil and petroleum products from Abadan Refinery in southwestern Khuzestan Province. But the damage was fixed within 48 hours and transfer resumed, Shana reported Mostafa Alizad as saying.
“As most oil wells were inundated, extracting crude was suspended for two days to prevent damage to pumps and boosters. However, we supplied Shazand Refinery in Markazi Province with the remaining oil in the pipelines so that work at the refinery is not disrupted.”
There was no problem in providing refineries in Isfahan, Shiraz, Tehran, Shazand and Tabriz with their required feed.
Despite the scale and scope of the destruction in several provinces, the company has strived to supply oil and other petroleum products. Other oil pipelines in Markazi, Lorestan, Kermanshah and Khuzestan provinces were damaged by the deluge but were repaired soon.
Heavy rainfall, unprecedented over six decades, began March 19, overflowing rivers, washing away bridges, inundating houses and destroying infrastructure.
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced and are in dire need of food, water, tents and blankets. At least 80 people have been reported dead.
Floodwaters inflicted colossal human and material damage in several towns and villages, especially in the western and northern regions.
Iran plans to raise its oil refining capacity from the current 1.9 million barrels per day to 3.2 million bpd in the next few years. Projects include establishing new facilities and renovating dilapidated refineries.
