Chronology of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC)

Within the 100-Year History of Iran's Oil Industry

Prior to the establishment of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC), the transportation of crude oil to refineries and export terminals, refining operations, production and nationwide distribution of petroleum products, as well as the construction of refineries, offshore platforms, pipelines, and telecommunications networks, were carried out independently under various organizational entities and management structures.

With the establishment of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) on March 8, 1992 (17 Esfand 1370), these activities were consolidated under a single specialized organization and formally recognized as the responsibilities of an independent national company.

Accordingly, a significant chapter in the 100-year chronology of Iran's oil industry is dedicated to the development of refining facilities, pipeline networks, transportation infrastructure, and petroleum product distribution systems. Reviewing this historical timeline clearly illustrates NIORDC's pivotal role and enduring contribution to the advancement of Iran's oil industry.

1911 (1290)

Construction of the Masjed Soleyman–Abadan crude oil pipeline.

1912 (1291)

Construction and commissioning of the Abadan Refinery with an initial processing capacity of 2,500 barrels per day (bpd).

1922 (1301)

Commissioning of the Kermanshah Refinery with a processing capacity of 2,000 bpd.

1930 (1309)

Construction of the Haftkel–Kut Abdollah pipeline and its connection to the Masjed Soleyman–Abadan pipeline.

1935 (1314)

Official inauguration of the Kermanshah Refinery with an annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes.

Construction of the Naft Shahr–Kermanshah crude oil pipeline, measuring 230 km in length with a 7.5 cm diameter.

1939 (1318)

Construction of the first Abadan–Ahvaz refined kerosene pipeline, completed with the participation of Iranian engineers.

1940 (1319)

Construction of the Gachsaran–Abadan crude oil pipeline, 264 km long with a 30.5 cm diameter.

1944 (1323)

Construction of the Ahvaz–Shushtar pipeline with a diameter of 25–30 cm.

Construction of the second Abadan–Ahvaz pipeline, 121 km in length with a 6-inch diameter.

1951 (1330)

25 April: The British Ambassador proposed to Prime Minister Hossein Ala that the domestic petroleum distribution facilities in Iran be entrusted to an Iranian company.

26 September: Iranian military forces entered the Abadan Refinery, preventing foreign personnel from entering the facility.

1955 (1334)

Approval by the Supreme Petroleum Council for the construction of the Abadan–Tehran Trans-Iranian Pipeline.

Execution of expansion and upgrading units at the Abadan Refinery.

1957 (1336)

Construction of the Abadan–Tehran crude oil pipeline.

Establishment of the first radio communications network for the operation and remote control of 13 pumping stations along the Tehran–Abadan pipeline.

1959 (1338)

Commissioning of the Tehran–Abadan 27-channel telecommunications network.

1960 (1339)

Commissioning of the Rey–Qazvin pipeline.

Signing of a petroleum products export agreement with Afghanistan.

1961 (1340)

Commissioning of the Rey–Shahroud pipeline.

Commissioning of the 24-channel Tehran–Rey–Qazvin–Rasht telecommunications network to support communications between pumping stations, the Rey operational area, the Qazvin region, and the Rasht terminal.

1962 (1341)

Commissioning of the large Catalytic Reformer Unit at the Abadan Refinery.

1963 (1342)

Construction of the 6-channel Tehran–Semnan telecommunications network for remote monitoring and control of the Semnan pumping station.

1964 (1343)

Reorganization of the petroleum distribution and pipeline operations under the Exploration, Production and Distribution Management.

Renewal of the petroleum products supply agreement with Afghanistan.

Commissioning of the Tehran–Qazvin–Rasht pipeline.

Signing of an agreement for the supply of aviation fuels to Kabul and Kandahar airports by the National Iranian Oil Company.

1965 (1344)

Commencement of construction of the Tehran Refinery with a design capacity of 85,000 bpd.

Commissioning of the second Ahvaz–Tehran crude oil pipeline.

Inauguration of the Nahid Pumping Station near Ahvaz.

1968 (1347)

Signing of a contract for the export of 25,000 tonnes of petroleum products to Afghanistan.

Commissioning of the Tehran Refinery with a processing capacity of 85,000 bpd.

Commissioning of the Cat Cracker Unit at the Abadan Refinery.

Introduction of Tehran Refinery Super Gasoline at 45 retail fuel stations across Tehran and other cities.

Signing of a contract with a Dutch company for the modernization and expansion of the Kermanshah Refinery.

1969 (1348)

Commissioning of the National Iranian Oil Company's microwave telecommunications network with capacities of 300, 600, and 960 channels.

Signing of the contract between the National Iranian Oil Company and the Italian company Snamprogetti for the construction of the Shiraz Refinery.

1970 (1349)

Commencement of construction of the Shiraz Refinery with a processing capacity of 40,000 bpd.

1971 (1350)

Commencement of construction of Tehran Refinery No. 2.

Completion of the preliminary engineering design for the Isfahan Refinery, with a planned capacity of 200,000 bpd, by engineers and specialists of the National Iranian Oil Company.

Commissioning of the new Kermanshah Refinery, with a design capacity of 15,000 bpd and an operational capacity of 19,000 bpd.

1973 (1352)

Expansion of the Tehran Refinery processing capacity to 125,000 bpd.

Commencement of detailed engineering and construction activities for the Isfahan Refinery by international contractors.

Commissioning of Tehran Refinery No. 2 with a processing capacity of 100,000 bpd.

Inauguration and commissioning of the Shiraz Refinery with a processing capacity of 40,000 bpd.

Commencement of the design and construction of the Oil Switching Network.

1974 (1353)

Official inauguration of Tehran Refinery No. 2 and its lubricating oil production plant.

Commencement of operations at the Shiraz Refinery with a processing capacity of 40,000 bpd.

Establishment of the Petroleum Distribution and Pipeline Organization as an independent organizational entity.

1975 (1354)

Commencement of construction of the Tabriz Refinery.

Commencement of construction of the Isfahan Refinery.

1976 (1355)

Commissioning of the Lavan Refinery with a processing capacity of 20,000 bpd.

1977 (1356)

Commissioning of the Tabriz Refinery, with a nominal processing capacity of 80,000 bpd, by Iranian specialists.

1979 (1358)

Commissioning of the first crude distillation unit at the Isfahan Refinery, with a processing capacity of 280,000 bpd.

1983 (1362)

  • Construction of the Afrineh–Kermanshah crude oil pipeline, 172 km in length with a 16-inch diameter.

1984 (1363)

  • Expansion of the Kermanshah Refinery processing capacity to more than 25,000 bpd.

1987 (1366)

  • Establishment of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC).
  • Establishment of the Pipeline and Telecommunications Management within the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

1990 (1369)

  • Commencement of construction of the Bandar Abbas Refinery with a nominal processing capacity of 232,000 bpd.
  • Signing and implementation of the contract for the construction of the Arak Refinery in cooperation with international contractors.

1992 (1370)

  • Establishment of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC).

1993 (1372)

  • Inauguration and commissioning of the Arak Refinery with a processing capacity of 150,000 bpd.

1994 (1373)

  • Establishment of the National Iranian Oil Engineering and Construction Company (NIOEC).

1997 (1376)

  • Commissioning of Crude Distillation Units No. 1 and No. 2 at the Bandar Abbas Refinery.
  • Renaming all refineries as Oil Refining Companies.

2000 (1379)

  • Establishment of the Iran Oil Pipelines and Telecommunications Company (IOPTC) under the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC).

2004 (1383)

  • Commissioning of new process units and implementation of refinery modifications at the Tehran and Tabriz Refineries.
  • Construction of the Neka Oil Terminal.
  • Commencement of the capacity expansion project at the Bandar Abbas Refinery, increasing its processing capacity from 232,000 to 320,000 bpd.

2006 (1385)

  • Commencement of the Arak Refinery Expansion Project, increasing its processing capacity to 250,000 bpd.

2007 (1386)

  • Commencement of the Tehran Refinery Development and Modernization Project.
  • Commencement of the Abadan Refinery Development Project.
  • Commencement of the Isfahan Refinery Process Improvement and Capacity Optimization Project.
  • Commencement of construction of the Shahryar Refinery in Tabriz with a planned processing capacity of 150,000 bpd.
  • Commencement of construction of the Bandar Abbas Gas Condensate Refinery (later known as the Persian Gulf Star Refinery) with a planned processing capacity of 360,000 bpd.
  • Signing of the contract for the construction of the Neka–Jask pipeline, extending approximately 1,500 km.
  • Launch of the implementation of the Integrated Voice and Data Network Project across 169 operational sites.
  • Commissioning of the National Smart Fuel Card System.
  • Commissioning of 150 dual-fuel service stations supplying both gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG).
  • Commissioning of the Bandar Abbas–Isfahan petroleum products pipeline capacity expansion project.

2008 (1387)

  • Construction of the Tabriz–Miandoab petroleum products pipeline, 144 km in length.
  • Construction of two 10-inch pipelines between the Shahid Rajaee and Shahid Bahonar oil depots in Bandar Abbas, including a new pumping station.
  • Construction of new Tehran and Tabriz pumping stations.
  • Removal of operational bottlenecks under the Bandar Abbas Refinery Capacity Expansion Project, increasing refining capacity from 232,000 to 320,000 bpd.

2010 (1389)

  • Expansion of the transfer capacity of the Tabriz–Miandoab petroleum products pipeline from 30,000 to 60,000 bpd.
  • Implementation of the Targeted Subsidy Reform Plan, contributing to a reduction in the growth rate of gasoline consumption.
  • Expansion of the refining capacity of the Imam Khomeini Oil Refining Company (Shazand) from 170,000 to 250,000 bpd.

2011 (1390)

  • Commissioning of the Industrial Telemedicine System for operational regions of the Iran Oil Pipelines and Telecommunications Company.
  • Construction of the Rey–Qouchak petroleum products pipeline, extending 45 km.
  • Commissioning of the first Vapor Recovery Unit (VRU) for hydrocarbon gas recovery at the West Tehran Oil Depot.
  • Construction of the Qasr-e Shirin Oil Depot.
  • Construction of the Eslamabad Oil Depot.
  • Reduction of sulfur content in kerosene produced by the Imam Khomeini Oil Refining Company (Shazand) from 1,400 ppm to below 50 ppm.
  • Expansion of the refining capacity of the Lavan Oil Refining Company from 30,000 to 50,000 barrels per day.
  • Commencement of Euro 4 gasoline production at the Imam Khomeini Oil Refining Company (Shazand) and the Tehran Oil Refining Company.
  • Increase in gasoline production at the Abadan Oil Refining Company from 1.4 million liters per day to 3.6 million liters per day through the commissioning of Catalytic Cracking Unit No. 2 (Cat Cracker No. 2).

2012 (1391)

  • Distribution of Euro 4 petroleum products in the metropolitan areas of Tehran and Mashhad.
  • Commissioning of the largest Residue Catalytic Cracking (RCD/RFCC) complex in the Middle East at the Imam Khomeini Oil Refining Company (Shazand).
  • Production of Euro 4 diesel fuel at the Tehran Oil Refining Company, reduction of kerosene sulfur content from 1,400 ppm to below 50 ppm, and commissioning of the Kerosene Hydrotreating Unit.
  • Commissioning of the Alkylation Unit at the Abadan Oil Refining Company.
  • Commissioning of the Gasoline Production Project at the Tehran Oil Refining Company to improve gasoline quality.

2013 (1392)

  • Construction of the 8-inch gas condensate pipeline from the Farashband Gas Refinery to the Shiraz Refinery, extending 227 km.
  • Construction of the 14-inch Rey–Kan petroleum products pipeline, extending 44 km.
  • Construction of a new Mahshahr–Abadan petroleum products pumping station.
  • Construction of the 10-inch Sarvestan–Sa'adatabad/Shiraz crude oil pipeline, extending 70 km.
  • Construction of the Sarkan–Bardaspi crude oil pipeline, extending 55 km.
  • Distribution of Euro 4 petroleum products in the cities of Arak, Qom, and Karaj.
  • Commissioning of the Kerman and Malayer Oil Depots, along with fuel oil storage tanks at the Shazand Oil Depot.
  • Commencement of Euro 4 diesel fuel production at the Imam Khomeini Oil Refining Company (Shazand).
  • Commencement of propylene production at the Abadan Oil Refining Company.
  • Commissioning of the Naphtha Hydrotreating Unit, Catalytic Reforming Unit, and supporting utility facilities at the Lavan Oil Refining Company.
  • Commissioning of the Isfahan Refinery Gasoline Production Project, increasing gasoline production by 1.8 million liters per day.
  • Commissioning of the Process Optimization and Product Quality Improvement Project at the Tabriz Oil Refining Company.

2014 (1393)

  • Distribution of Euro 4 petroleum products in the cities of Tabriz, Isfahan, and Borujerd.
  • Pilot implementation of the KAHAB Project at a fuel station in Karaj.

2015 (1394)

  • Commissioning of the Middle Distillates Hydrotreating Unit, Sour Water Stripping Unit, Amine Gas Sweetening Unit, and the Caustic and Chemical Production and Distribution Unit as part of the Lavan Refinery Process Improvement and Optimization Project.
  • Commissioning of the Malayer, Shiraz, and Mahshahr oil depots.
  • Commissioning of the Intelligent Diesel Fuel Allocation System Based on Distance Traveled (IFAM).
  • Commissioning of the 83-km, 20-inch petroleum products pipeline between the Sabzab and Tang-e Fanni pumping stations (Variant 1).
  • Commissioning of the Extraction Section Project under the Mahshahr Development Program.
  • Commissioning of the Sulfur Recovery Unit (SSU) and storage tanks under the Bandar Abbas Refinery Gasoline Production Expansion Project.
  • Commissioning of the 20-inch petroleum products pipeline between the Nourbakhsh Oil Depot and the Mahshahr Export Terminal.
  • Commissioning of the 26-inch fuel oil pipeline between the Back Area and the Mahshahr Export Terminal.
  • Commissioning of the Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU) of the Cat Cracker Project at Abadan Oil Refining Company.
  • Commissioning of the Gasoline Treating Unit (GPTU) to improve gasoline quality at Abadan Oil Refining Company.
  • Distribution of Euro 4 gasoline in Ahvaz and Shiraz.
  • Distribution of Euro 4 diesel fuel in Shiraz.

2016 (1395)

  • Commissioning of the Tabriz Refinery Flare Gas Recovery Project.
  • Commissioning of the Vapor Recovery Unit (VRU) under the KAHAB Project at Isfahan Refinery.

2017 (1396)

  • Commissioning of Phase I of the Persian Gulf Star Refinery.
  • National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company:
    • Construction of the 16-inch Bushehr pipeline.
    • Modernization and upgrading of the Rey Oil Depot.
    • Construction of storage tanks, auxiliary buildings, aviation fueling facilities, and the regional administrative building in Iranshahr.
    • Construction of the Central Laboratory Building and the Rey Operations Administrative Building.
    • Expansion of the Kerman Administrative Building.
    • Establishment of the National Airport Inventory Dispatching System.
    • Equipping oil depots with LG/TG systems.
    • Installation of electronic protection systems at oil depots.
  • Abadan Oil Refining Company:
    • Construction of the Hydrogen Package Unit.
    • Development of the Mahshahr Export Terminal.
  • Increase in gasoline production capacity at Bandar Abbas Refinery by 3 million liters per day.
  • Lavan Oil Refining Company:
    • Sulfur Recovery Unit.
    • Industrial Wastewater Treatment System.
  • Commissioning of the Polisher Unit within the Water, Power, and Steam Complex at Kermanshah Refinery.
  • Tabriz Oil Refining Company:
    • Construction of the Lube Oil Blending Unit.
    • Installation and commissioning of environmental monitoring analyzers.
    • Modernization of the petroleum products metering system.
  • Replacement of the P Power Center and modernization of electrical switchboards at Tehran Refinery.
  • Implementation of the project connecting the old Miandoab pipeline to the new Urmia Oil Depot (Tabriz–Urmia Pipeline Project) by the Iran Oil Pipelines and Telecommunications Company.

2018 (1397)

  • Commissioning of the Diesel Hydrotreating Unit at Tabriz Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Distillation Unit, Catalytic Reforming Unit (Phase II), and the Kerosene and Diesel Hydrotreating Units (Phase I) at Persian Gulf Star Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Isomerization Unit (Phase II) at Persian Gulf Star Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Distillation Unit (Phase III) at Persian Gulf Star Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Diesel Hydrotreating Unit (Phase II) at Persian Gulf Star Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Light Naphtha Hydrotreating Unit (LNHT) at Bandar Abbas Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Diesel Hydrotreating (Desulfurization) Unit at Bandar Abbas Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Gas Turbine Power Generation Unit at Bandar Abbas Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Sulfur Granulation Unit at Bandar Abbas Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Third Crude Distillation Unit and LPG Unit at Isfahan Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Pumping Station and Water Treatment Plant at Isfahan Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Catalytic Reforming and Isomerization Units (Phase III) at Persian Gulf Star Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Isomerization Unit, Amine Gas Sweetening Unit, Sour Water Stripping Unit, Sulfur Recovery Unit, and associated utility and off-site facilities at Bandar Abbas Refinery.
  • Construction of 17 cylindrical and spherical petroleum product storage tanks at Bandar Abbas Refinery.

2019 (1398)

  • Commissioning of the Sulfur Granulation Unit at Isfahan Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Third Crude Distillation Unit at Isfahan Refinery.
  • Commissioning of the Abadan Refinery Flare Gas Recovery Project.
  • Installation of a Desalter Unit in the Atmospheric Distillation Unit 80 at Abadan Refinery.
  • Replacement of the barometric vessels of the distillation unit at Abadan Refinery.
  • Construction of a water treatment facility utilizing water supplied from the South Tehran Water Treatment Plant, together with the associated transfer system within Tehran Refinery.
  • Completion of the Light Naphtha Hydrotreating and Isomerization Units at Lavan Refinery.

 

 


گروه دورانV6.3.2.1