“Mobilizing the full support of domestic manufacturers and technologists is the main goal of NISOC,” Bijan Alipour was also quoted as saying by ISNA, adding that the company’s joint projects with ACECR have so far been successful.
ACECR is an Iranian public non-governmental higher education institution established in 1980. It engages in innovative research and development projects in different fields of science and technology and real-world applications.
Alipour, who participated in a meeting with ACECR’s CEO Hamidreza Tayebi on expanding bilateral cooperation, noted that he believes the academic agency has been successful in indigenizing state-of-the-art technologies, Financial Tribune reported.
Tayebi voiced ACECR’s readiness to increase collaboration with the state-run company.
“I request my colleagues in the National Iranian Oil Company to utilize ACECR’s potential in energy plans, as Iran needs to increase employment rate and localize know-how in many fields,” Alipour said.
The official said that domestic manufacturers and ACECR should be allowed to play a bigger role in Iranian development projects as they are on a par with many international firms.
The Oil Ministry has taken measures to boost domestic manufacturing of oil equipment to stem the outflow of capital.
In 2014, a committee was set up to pursue the production of 10 major categories of equipment for the key sector, including turbines and compressors. Alipour had said last year that domestic companies manufacture 80% of equipment needed by the oil and gas industry.
Reza Padidar, the former head of the Society of Iranian Petroleum Industries Equipment Manufacturers, noted in May that the Oil Ministry and its subsidiaries are obliged to buy equipment via the Integrated System for Protection of Domestic Production, which contains a full list of eligible local suppliers.
Iran has lined up dozens of oil and gas fields for tender to multinationals under a new model of contract, dubbed the Iran Petroleum Contract.
The new model obliges foreign contractors to choose and work alongside Iranian firms, a measure aimed at helping domestic firms gradually prepare for international oil and gas contracts.
NIOC has approved 17 domestic corporations for partnership with internationals in future oil and gas projects.
The list includes notable names such as energy and engineering company MAPNA Group, Khatam-al-Anbia Construction Headquarters, the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran and Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company.