TEHRAN Sept 20 (Shana)-- A Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone (PETZONE) official has said development of downstream industries, completion of intermediary industries and achieving nameplate production capacity are among the main targets of the zone.
PETZONE’s deputy Qasem Amiri said petrochemical products make up 80 percent of non-oil exports of Khozestan province.
He noted petrochemical sector was a vast industry with sophisticated technology and a variety of products including different types of fertilizers, some acids, bases and salts, monomers and polymers, aromatics and intermediates.
Amiri added petrochemical industry has some comparative advantages including lower amount of investment, higher level of value added, potentials for creating more jobs and a variety of products.
According to the official, there is 16.9 million tons of idle capacity in the zone but there are efforts underway to activate the capacity.
He said PETZONE with production of 43 percent of the total petrochemical products of the country has been able to create jobs for 27 and 40 thousand individuals directly and indirectly.
PETZONE is studying implementation of 21 projects with 1.52 trillion rials investment; he said a contract concerning a methanol-2 project with the nameplate capacity of 1.650 tons is on the verge of conclusion. The project is expected to create jobs for 240 individuals.
As the first specialized special zone located southwest of Iran, PETZONE enjoys 33 berths including an exclusive 70 thousand tons berth. The zone has easy access to land and see routes and its proximity to Mahshahr airport and two lines of railroad from Imam Khomeini port to Ahvaz city, capital of Khozestan province, facilitates transportation.
By SHANA
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