TEHRAN (PIN) -– The National Petrochemical Company (NPC) plans manager Wednesday announced that 16 billion dollars would be invested in the second phase of petrochemical sector of Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ), Assaluyeh, southern Iran.

Jalil Ebrahimpur added the fund would be used to set up 22 petrochemical plants.
He made the remarks on the sidelines of the Conference of Modern Petrochemical Era.
According to the NPC official, the budget is two times more than the amount invested in the first phase of Assaluyeh petrochemical sector.
The plans manager said the second phase of Assaluyeh would help the country take the second step toward the development of petrochemical industry.
Ebrahimpur added, “Out of 22 petrochemical units, the three plants of Kavian, Morvarid, and Mehr are under construction and will be expected to come on stream in mid-2008.”
He said the NPC had signed a contract with Sazeh Pardaz Consulting Company to provide utilities needed by the second phase units.
Shifting to the participation of the private sector in the projects of the second phase, the official said a contract on the construction of water, electricity, and steam power plants had been also inked, adding Iran Power Plant Projects Management (MAPNA) would implement 80 percent of related operations and the NPC would be in charge of the remaining 20 percent.
However, the NPC managing director last Monday said that 12 billion dollars would be invested in the second phase.
Gholamhossein Nejabat made the statement in his talks with reporters on the sidelines of conference in Assaluyeh.
He added the construction of Kavian, Morvarid, and Mehr petrochemical complexes in the second phase had started.
According to the NPC chief, 22 petrochemical complexes will be built in the second phase of Assaluyeh.
Nejabat said domestic petrochemical output would soar to 23 million tons by March 2008, earning the country 8.4 billion dollars.
“At present, PSEEZ accounts for 50 percent of the country’s petrochemical production,” added the official.
Nejabat said petrochemical plants in PSEEZ had an advantage over others in different parts of the country as they were well fed by the refining phases of South Pars field.
The managing director added 8.3 billion dollars had been invested in the first phase of Assaluyeh.
“Most of petrochemical complexes of the first phase have come on stream and Arya Sasol and Jam complexes are the last plants that will be put into operation by next March,” he said.
Assaluyeh exported 3.058 million tons of petrochemical products to the world markets in a nine month period starting March 21.
According to the NPC, the products were exported by the Petrochemical Reserves and Terminals Company via the specialized port.
Zagros, Nuri, and Pars petrochemical complexes ranked first to third, exporting of 802, 624, and 473 thousand tons respectively.
The NPC added the products were shipped to the Asian and European states by 179 vessels.