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Bringing Together
the Petchem World
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" Presentation
of domestic capabilities in the fields of engineering as well as domestic
manufacture and installation during these forums has been effective in
expanding engineering services." |
The Fifth Iran Petrochemical Forum
(IPF5) set to be held May 2003 draws nearer. This year will be the fifth
consecutive year in which Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) holds
this international forum which brings the world of petrochemicals together.
Mohammadhassan Peyvandi, Director of Planning and Development of NPC and the
forum’s Chairman highlighted what we should be looking forward to in IPF5
through the interview that follows.
What is the main focus of IPF5 and why?
The main topics that have been selected
–with due attention– for this international petrochemical conference are
current issues facing the petrochemical industries of the world, Iran and its
region. The most important topics regarding these industries both at
international and regional levels include challenges they face in regard to
investment, taking advantage of natural gas resources, regional cooperation,
future of aromatic products, ways of compensating propylene shortage and new
applications of methanol. Moreover, petrochemical industries are trying to
find answers for such problems as the decrease in propylene production due to
replacement of naphtha feed with ethane, taking more advantage of recycling
technologies and the effect of the e-commerce of petrochemical products on
market growth and investments.
What is the NPC’s main objective of holding these annual
conferences?
Basically, holding international
conferences follows two general goals, which are:
A) Providing an opportunity for exchange
of expert views on the latest achievements and problem solving; and
B) Finding grounds for cooperation to
enter international markets and to attract investments.
Conferences held on the international or
Iran’s petrochemical industries are no exception. Due to the profound gap
existing between Iran’s petrochemical industry and those of advanced countries
and the role of foreign investment and access to global markets in prosperity,
Iran’s petrochemical industry is in dire need of holding international forums.
It should be added that this measure has been in vogue in our country for four
years now as part of the NPC’s activities to facilitate exchange of views with
foreign technicians and attract foreign investment. I must add that due to the
expansion of foreign contacts, foreign direct investment in the petrochemical
industry has entered an executive phase, an example of which is investment in
an isocyanate project at the special economic-petrochemical zone with the
participation of two companies from Sweden and Germany. Directors of these
companies will address the forum in May 2003.
To what extent have the objectives of the previous forums
held by NPC been realized?
Forums held by the NPC have been quite
successful from an international point of view, as our main areas of concern
such as the market, commissioning underway projects and product specifications
were addressed. These forums have played an important part in expanding the
market because, at present, petrochemical industries are faced with a high
demand for their products.
Presentation of domestic capabilities in
the fields of engineering as well as domestic manufacture and installation
during these forums has been effective in expanding engineering services. It
should be noted that the development that has taken place in the field of
engineering is beyond compare with countries similar to Iran.
Undoubtedly, the forums have not only
led to the better introduction of Iran’s petrochemical industry and its
downstream industries to the global market, but has also boosted the role of
Tehran as an important regional center for making decisions regarding the
future of petrochemical industries.
What is the role of IPF5 in determining the status of the
industry in Iran and the world and its impact on the attraction of foreign
investment?
With regard to the market issues, I must
say that the petrochemical industry is currently faced with purchase requests
for its products. This is not only true with available products, but also for
those products whose production plans are currently underway and have not
become operational yet. Therefore, we believe that Iran’s marketing efforts,
including the holding of international forums, have been effective in
expanding our share of the global petrochemical market. These activities have
prompted investors to trust the NPC’s financial capabilities, which has
resulted in the insurance coverage and financing of such projects.
In recent years, petrochemical forums have been held in
which representatives from important countries have participated. What is the
significance of such forums from an international standpoint and how far do
they go in turning Iran into an important decision-making center for the
future of the world’s petrochemical industry and what are NPC’s expectations
in this regard?
As for introducing other the
capabilities of petrochemical industries, previous forums have played their
role appropriately through presenting papers. In most forums we have been
provided with an opportunity for presenting our capabilities in engineering as
well as domestic manufacture and installation of project structures. The
participants have noticed this rapid improvement in capabilities, which can be
ascertained by foreign companies delegating more responsibility to Iranian
sides. It should be noted that the NPC has taken remarkable steps for the
development of processes and related technologies.
What is the effect of IPF on increasing cooperation among
production companies, contractors and consumers of petrochemical products?
The outcome of exchanging views among
specialists and experts in this industry can be witnessed in the process of
production and trade. Producers, contractors and consumers enter a wider space
for expansion of international cooperation by being aware of challenges facing
this industry as well as mechanisms adopted to confront them.
What is on agenda for IPF? Which companies and foreign
personalities have been invited to take part in this conference?
In addition to Iran’s Minister of Oil,
Bijan Zangeneh, who traditionally inaugurates the conference every year, other
Iranian and non-Iranian dignitaries have been invited to attend the conference
scheduled for May 2003. For example, Deputy Minister of Oil and Managing
Director of NPC and former Dean of Tehran University and Sharif University of
Technology and present lecturer of American and Canadian universities,
Mohammadreza Nematzadeh, and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Economic Affairs,
Mohammadhussein Adeli, will address the forum. Among foreign personalities I
can mention Mr. Al-Mazi, Managing Director of Saudi Arabian Petrochemical
Company, which plays a significant role in the region’s petrochemical
industry, who will also deliver a speech during the forum. I should note that
the scientific committee of the forum, which is run by me and supervised at a
higher level by the Deputy Minister of Oil for Petrochemical Affairs, has only
accepted those lecturers who in addition to high scientific and managerial
qualifications have presented up-to-date papers. We always observe this
principle. |
