Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran's Petroleum Ministry has stepped up efforts to produce petroleum industry equipment.

Iran's Deputy Petroleum Minister, Rokneddin Javadi said the Ministry is concentrating its efforts on domestic manufacturing of equipment needed in the petroleum industry.

Javadi who is also the managing-director of National Iranian Oil Company said 10 groups are planned to be established to indigenize manufacturing of strategic commodities for the petroleum industry, Shana news agency reported.

He said domestic manufacturing of petroleum industry equipment is enshrined in the Economy of Resistance directive instructed by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Javadi said Iranian companies which are capable of manufacturing equipment for the petroleum industry will be identified soon.

He expressed hope that the government and the parliament hold a professional view of the petroleum industry issues in order to remove hurdles particularly on the way of domestic manufacturing.

Petroleum has been the main industry in Iran since 1920s. The Iranian economy is heavily dependent on the lucrative oil and gas sector. Despite Tehran's attempts to diversify its economy, the oil and gas industry is still the critical engine of Iran's economic growth.