Domestic Initiative to Produce Catalysts in Iran

Tehran Refinery signed an agreement with the Petrochemical Commercial Co. (PCC) on Saturday for producing a type of catalyst used in the production of gasoline that complies with Euro-4 emission standards.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 22nd International Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition in Tehran, ISNA reported. It is part of efforts to curb air pollution from gas-guzzlers in the sprawling capital and support domestic production of catalysts and other important chemical products.

According to ISNA, European companies have been the main suppliers of catalysts to Iranian refineries for gasoline production. PCC officials say the domestic catalyst will be an improvement over the foreign brands.

The move to further enhance gasoline quality comes on the back of a long dispute in the past over the poor quality of gasoline produced domestically that was said to be the main cause of more than 4,000 deaths annually in Tehran alone.

Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told Shana last week that Iran still needs to import gasoline to meet domestic demand despite the launch of the first production phase of the Persian Gulf Star Refinery this month.

Once fully operational, the PGSR will add Iran's name on the list of gasoline exporting nations and end years of reliance on imports of the fuel.