The units are part of an existing gas treatment plant located near Ahwaz and will treat associated gas and condensates gathered from the southern oil fields of Ahwaz, Ab-e Teymour, Kupal, Mansouri and Marun. The treated gas will be pumped into the domestic gas grid, while the residue gas will be piped to National Petrochemical Company'sRazi petrochemical complex for the production of sulphuric acid. Siirtec Nigi will also provide supervision to plant operators on setting up the facilities and on the training of staff.

The company says the project will significantly reduce air pollution by reducing the amount of flared associated gas.

The project is part of the estimated $300 million Amak gas-gathering scheme, which in 2001 was awarded on a buy-back basis by National Iranian Oil Companyto a local team of Iran International Engineering Company (IRITEC) and Italy-registered Irasco, a subsidiary of IRITEC.

The deal is Siirtec Nigi's second success in Iran within a year, following last June's award of a contract to revamp the sulphur recovery units of the Tehran and Tabriz refineries. The company has completed basic design on the project and is now evaluating possibilities to expand co-operation with the client, China's Sinopec Engineering(MEED 15:6:01).