In a bid to improve energy efficiency and help protect the environment, Fanavaran Petrochemical Company off the Persian Gulf has reduced energy consumption in the methanol and ethanol units, the managing director said.
Fanavaran has decreased energy consumption from 41 gigajoule per ton of methanol last year to 35 GJ per ton in the current year (began in March).
“Based on plans the consumption will drop to 34 GJ next year,” Energy Today quoted Mohammad Javad Badri as saying.
The company has reduced energy consumption in ethanol production from last year’s 45 megajoule per ton to 35 MJ per ton now. “This also has helped curb carbon dioxide emissions,” Badri added.
Last year's overhaul programs included curbing energy consumption and boosting output.
The company set a record by producing 3,054 tons of methanol per day last year. Badri expressed the hope that if the same trend continues, a higher record would be set this year.
Located in the Petrochemical Special Economic Zone, Khuzestan Province, Fanavaran’s main products include methanol, ethanol, acetic acid and carbon monoxide.
Methanol is used as raw material in the production of organic material solvents, organic coatings, composites, and glues among others.
Third Methanol Plant
As the third mega methanol plant in Iran, the company exports 80% of its methanol, mostly to China and India. The other 20% is sold to local plants including Bandar Imam Petrochemical Company to produce methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) -- a gasoline additive used as oxygenate and to raise the octane content.
Iran produces 6.6 million tons of methanol per annum of which 400,000 tons are exported. Methanol projects that are set to come on stream next year will add 12 million tons to the total output.
National Petrochemical Company data show Iran accounts for 8% of the world's total methanol production and its exports are seen in international markets, mainly in Iraq, China, the UAE, India and South Korea.
During March 2017-2018, Iran’s methanol export to international markets generated over $1 billion (the USD at that time sold for 35,000 rials).
According to data from the statistical agency Eurostat, Iran methanol exports to Europe, including Italy, totaled 128,942 tons in 2017, which was up 43% year-on-year and the highest level since 2011.
Relatively cheap feedstock plus demand from Asian countries has contributed to the growth of Iran's methanol production during the last decade.
China, which has major methanol-to-olefins capacity, is a natural target market for Iranian supplies. Its top five importers account for 60% of Iranian methanol with three purchasing molecules for the production of olefins.
Fanavaran Petrochemical Company was founded in 1977 and operates as a subsidiary of the NPC.
Its other products are also popular in various industries. Its carbon monoxide is used as feed for the production of engineering polymers, organic chemicals and petrochemicals among others.
Another important product of Fanavaran is acetic acid that is as primary raw material for the production of solvents, paints and pharmaceuticals.
Planning for the second phase of the company has started. “Phase two will be a petro-olefin plant, which will have the capacity to produce 1.65 million tons of ethanol and other petrochemicals per annum,” Badri noted.
