Referring to Iran’s nuclear deal with the 5+1 group of countries and the possibility of the removal of sanctions on oil industry, Pirouz Mousavi said that, “currently, gaining the top position in oil terminals in Persian Gulf and in the Middle East has been defined as an important and strategic objective in Iran’s oil industry and the necessary plans have been developed.”
He further pointed to the plan to turn Khark’s oil terminal into a top three world oil terminal in terms of capacity, accuracy, quality, and speed asserting that, “accordingly, regarding the policy of sustainable oil production, we will produce oil and gas through receiving operations, storage, mixing, measuring the quantity and quality of loading and unloading (export and import) of oil and oil products as well as exchange (swap).”
Emphasizing that increasing oil production and export is Iran’s key programme for the post-sanction era, the official stated that, “to this end, so far, modernization, upgrading , and overhaul of all facilities and infrastructure of oil terminals have been carried out.”
At the moment, Iran’s crude oil export has reached 6 million barrels a day, said Mousavi adding that, “by building four crude oil storage tanks in Khark Island, the storage capacity of this oil terminal has increased by 4 million barrels to reach a total of 28 million barrels.”
Managing Director of Iranian Oil Terminals Company also reported on the design and construction of strategic crude oil export facilities and noted that, “this project will bring about great achievements in terms of increasing Iran’s competitive and strategic capabilities in exporting oil and engineering services in the region and in the world as well as developing oil industry technology and indigenizing vital and strategic equipment.”
Pointing to Iran’s oil terminals readiness to host foreign oil tankers during the post-sanction era, Mousavi concluded that, “in order to provide marine services to oil tankers, all the necessary measures have been taken including descaling and complete overhaul of Khark and Neka oil terminals, repair of floating balls as well as related vessels.”