TEHRAN: An official has announced the signing of the first contract to purchase a petrochemical industry catalyst from a German firm in the post-JCPOA era. With passage of about nine months from implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran has received necessary permits to import catalysts required for refinery and petrochemical industries form European Union (EU) states.
Accordingly, Iran has inked a contract to buy catalysts form a credible German firm while certain European companies previously refused to sell catalysts to Iran during sanction years. Managing Director of Shazand Petrochemical Company (Arak) Khodadad Gharibpour said two separate deals have been sealed to purchase catalysts from Japanese and German companies.
“Under the agreements, the German firm will provide Iran with vinyl acetate monomer catalyst while the Japanese firm will offer ethylene oxide catalyst,” he continued. The official emphasized that presently these catalysts cannot be produced inside the country otherwise Iranian manufacturers would be on top priority to supply the catalysts required by the country’s petrochemical industries.
Upon imposition of oil sanctions against Iran, several Western companies halted exports of oil and petrochemical catalysts to the country. Nevertheless, domestic production of various catalysts was put on the agenda of the country’s oil industry as self-sufficiency has been achieved in manufacturing more than 30 oil, gas and petrochemical catalysts. Additionally, statistics reveal that production of more than 20 catalysts and additives has become indigenized and complete self-sufficiency in manufacturing all types of catalysts is expected to be achieved in near future alleviating the need for imports.
