Iran’s Marjan Petrochemical Company has yet to start the main construction works at its planned $484m methanol plant at Assaluyeh, in the southwest of the country, despite awarding contracts in March.

The main engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the 1.65 million tonne-a-year (t/y) plant was awarded to a joint venture of the local Namvaran and China’s Chengda Engineering Company, according to a source close to the scheme.

The main engineering, procurement and construction contract was awarded in March

The EPC contract award followed the appointment of a new managing director at Marjan, explains one source. Although two months have now passed, “no significant site work is under way” and so far, only work on the site preparation, rough grading and the installation of battery limit fences has commenced (MEED 20:2:11).

Marjan signed a technology deal with Denmark’s Haldor Topsoe in June 2010 to supply technology licences, engineering design, catalysts and technical support services.

Iran’s Marjan Petrochemical Company, which was privatised in 2007, plans to build one of two new methanol plants at the Pars Special Economic Zone in Assaluyeh. Commissioning was originally scheduled for 2013, with the plant’s output bound for export to Asia. However, the units are now expected to come on-stream by 2015, at the end of Iran’s current five-year development plan, at the cost of almost $700m, according to state-owned Mehr new agency.