The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) will hold Iran’s first international forum on oil refining on 17-18 February 2007 in Tehran.

Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Deputy Petroleum Minister and NIORDC President

The forum will be organized under the auspices of Deputy Petroleum Minister and NIORDC President, Mr. Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh. Prior to his current position, Nematzadeh patronized the international Iran Petrochemical Forum (IPF), a world-renown petrochemical event when he was at the helm of the Iranian petrochemical industry. Held for seven consecutive years, IPF is now one of the best attended petrochemical events worldwide.

Iran’s first international forum on oil refining will be held in line with general policies and programs of NIORDC, which include: increasing the capacity of refineries to provide the needed feedstock for downstream projects, reducing production of heavy and low-value products by using modern process technologies, production of light and valuable products such as gasoline, establishment of a quality assurance system based on EU-2005 standard, reduction of environmental pollutants, implementing health, safety and environment (HSE) management system by utilizing electronic equipment, renovating control systems and replacing pneumatic electronic, digital and fieldbus systems.

The forum also seeks to provide advanced technological support from global market, attract investors in order to bring about profound changes in oil refining industry, achieve developmental goals, promote technical know-how by obtaining license for various technologies and attract foreign and domestic investment and achieve national, regional and global goals.

The event will give special attention to Iran’s potential capabilities for implementing refinery projects as well as transportation and distribution of oil products. Also the role of Iranian engineering companies that implement EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) projects in Arak and Bandar Abbas will be highlighted. This part of the forum can be attractive for foreign companies that implement EPC projects to take part in Iran’s projects through partnership with domestic companies in the form of joint venture. The forum will create good opportunities and organize roundtables for more contacts between Iranian and foreign engineering companies. In view of the developments underway in existing Iranian refineries and new refining projects as well as the necessity of using high-level technical know-how and modern technology for designing and commissioning extra heavy oil (including that produced by Soroush and Norouz oil fields) and gas condensate refineries and the need to attract investment to finance development projects needed for achieving the goals of refining industry in Iran, the forum is of special importance to NIORDC activities.

Mohsen Alaghehband Hosseini, Secretary of the Forum

Engineer Alaghehband Hosseini, secretary of the forum, says, "The forum will make an all-out effort to present Iran’s refining plans to the audience".

During the forum, speeches will be delivered on ongoing projects, so that managers of foreign companies will get abreast of capabilities of the Iranian engineering companies to pave the way for their potential participation in related projects. Hosseini says, "To make the most of this event, an exhibition will be held on the sidelines of the forum for exchange of views with foreign contractors while roundtables will be a good opportunity for both sides to discuss specialized issues. The exhibition will also display Iran’s capabilities and will be held over an area of 543 square meters. More than 33 Iranian and foreign companies will be present at the exhibition".