TEHRAN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran has launched the first phase of the gasoline production project in the southern Persian Gulf region on Sunday, Press TV reported.
The Persian Gulf Condensate Refinery, a project which would turn condensate into fuels, was inaugurated during a visit by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
The refinery would produce at least 12 million tons per day (mt/d) of high quality gasoline in the first phase.
It is expected to be in full swing by next March when its production of gasoline would reach as high as 36 mt/d, thus increasing Iran's overall production of the strategic fuel to more than 100 mt/d.
The project would make the country independent from imports of gasoline once fully developed, Press TV said.
Self-reliance in production of gasoline has strategic importance for the country, Rouhani said, describing it as a "necessary move."
The feedstock for the Persian Gulf Condensate Refinery, the capacity of which is 360,000 barrels per day of condensate, would be provided through a pipeline directly from Iran's natural gas zone of South Pars.
The construction of the refinery started in 2006 but its completion was delayed because of western sanctions against Iran.
