The Petrofan Conference, held in December 2024 in Iran, is recognized as a major and influential event in the nation’s petrochemical industry. Designed and organized to deepen innovation and technology within the sector, its aim is to address the technological requirements of subsidiaries of the Persian Gulf Holding. The event plays a particularly important role in harnessing the capabilities of knowledge-based companies and evaluating the outcomes of innovation in this field.
Main Objective of the Conference
The core mission of the Petrofan Conference is to foster sustainable technological and innovative advancement in the petrochemical industry. Leveraging the country’s existing scientific and technological capacity, it seeks to identify and bridge technological gaps in the sector. A key component of the event was the assessment of innovations achieved by petrochemical companies, alongside the presentation of their specific technology needs, particularly in the areas of environment, energy, and water.
Conference Highlights – Focus on Technological Needs
At the event, Fajr Company outlined six of its key technological needs related to water, energy, and environmental sustainability. These represent challenges faced by energy-producing enterprises in their operations, requiring advanced solutions and modern technologies:
- Enhancing Gas Turbine Efficiency
Improving the performance of gas turbines—critical in energy and electricity generation for petrochemical processes—can significantly reduce fuel consumption and cut energy production costs.
- Optimizing High TDS Wastewater Treatment
Industrial effluents with high Total Dissolved Solids present a serious challenge. The need for cost-effective, advanced technologies to treat and recycle such wastewater was a major discussion point.
- Capturing and Converting CO₂ Emissions
Given environmental impacts and stricter regulations, technologies for capturing CO₂ emissions from power plant stacks and converting them into value-added products—such as clean fuels—are a top priority.
- Reuse of Spent Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membranes
Innovative reuse of used RO membranes in water and wastewater treatment processes can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and conserve resources.
- Recovering Water from Cooling Tower Steam
Capturing and reusing water from cooling tower vapor discharge can cut water consumption and improve operational efficiency in petrochemical facilities.
- Recycling Sludge from Water Treatment Units
Recovering and recycling sludge from water treatment processes can help reduce pollution and optimize the use of natural resources.
Technical Sessions and Engagement with Knowledge-Based Companies
In addition to presenting these technological needs, the Petrofan Conference featured specialized sessions and in-person negotiations between Fajr’s executives and specialists and technology-based enterprises. These meetings provided a valuable platform for sharing expertise, exchanging ideas, and identifying opportunities for joint development between the petrochemical industry and technology innovators.
Future Outlook
By fostering collaboration and clarifying technological needs, Petrofan has taken a significant step toward transforming and advancing Iran’s petrochemical sector. In the near future, these partnerships are expected to help overcome technological challenges, enhance efficiency, and boost productivity across petrochemical units. Continuing and expanding the scope of such events can lead to the creation of a sustainable innovation and R&D ecosystem in the country’s petrochemical industry.
Conclusion
As a key event in Iran’s petrochemical landscape, Petrofan has provided an important platform for introducing the sector’s challenges and technological needs. Through the presentation of modern technologies, cooperation with knowledge-based enterprises, and analysis of innovation outcomes, the conference is paving the way toward higher technological standards and sustainable improvement in the petrochemical industry.