The Petrochemical Research & Technology Company (PRTC) of NPC and Haldor Topsoe A/S of Denmark have been engaged, under a collaboration agreement signed two years ago, in a joint effort to demonstrate new technologies for the petrochemical industry. The collaboration has now resulted in a contract with Zagros Petrochemical Co. to license technology, provide engineering and supply catalyst for an 880,000 of tonne/year of dimethyl ether (DME). The plant will be located at Pars Special Economic/Energy Zone. It is based on the technology and catalyst developed by Haldor Topsoe A/S for dehydration of methanol and made available in Iran by joint scientific and technical collaboration with PRTC. The implementation of this project will result in a world-wide increase in DME production by more than 200% and represents a breakthrough for the application of the product as a green fuel.
For further information on the project contact Haldor Topsoe A/S at: jep@topsoe.dk and PRTC at: info@npc-rt.ir.




The conceptual design and basic engineering work for a 1500km long pipeline, which will transfer ethylene from Assaluyeh to Iran's western provinces, has been completed, according to NPC president Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh.
Nematzadeh told a news conference on the sidelines of the 6th Iran Petrochemical Forum, that the detailed engineering work of the pipeline was 20% complete.
The pipeline, which will have a capacity of 1.5m tonne/year, will run from Assaluyeh to Gachsaran, Khoramabad, Kermanshah, Sanandaj and Mahabad along the west provinces of Iran. Mahabad is now the terminus of the project, but the pipeline may extend beyond that.
The pipeline will be built in eight to nine sections. A local producer will supply the pipes and the installation of one section of the line has already been put out to tender.
Several plants, including at least three polyethylene (PE) facilities, will be built along the course of the pipeline. These plants will have a capacity of 300,000 tonne/year each. It is due to be completed in three years with the yet-to-be-determined cost to be shared between the government and NPC.