Reported on August 15, 2009 by MPG, Bushehr branch

A large explosion at 1:30 A.M. shook the South Pars Petrochemical plant
in Bushehr province. The fires continuted burning until 5:30 A.M. The
fire was caused by an explosion in the gas pipelines. A number of our
countrymen were injured as a result of the explosion and the ensuing
fires. Experts said the welding of the pipes were substandard and the high pressure gas in the pipes exploded. Inferior quality of the work performed by the
domestic contractors led to this disaster.

It is noteworthy that the regime's meteing of contracts to
irrisponsible contractors in these projects and inadequate oversight
paired with a lack of technology and know-how is what leads to
disasters like this.

Engineer Mohammad-Hosseyn Zarifkar Fard, the CEO of the Pars
Petrochimical Plant stating that producting is currently halted at the
Part Petrochemical Plant and added: "once the fire was contained, an ad
hoc committee was formed on-site and the necessary decisions made and
steps taked to start repairing the damaged facilities as soon as
possible."

He noted that this accident will only affect 25% of the production at
the South Pars Petrochemical Plant and added: "the Ethane extraction
facility will be back online in the next few days with 75% production
capacity will be back to its designated capacity as soon as the damaged
areas are repaired.

Each year, the Pars Petrochemical's ethaen extraction facility produces
980,000 ton of propane and 570,000 tons of butane which are exported in
liquified form, netting high profit margins.
This facility also produced 1,590,000 tons of ethane and 86,000 tons of
gasoline annually which supplies Arya Sasol (Polymer Company) and Jam
petrochemical (JPC) facilities.

Each year 16,068,000 tons of light gas (methane) is also produced at
the Pars petrochemical's ethane extraction facility and conveyed to the
nationwide gas pipeline.

Pars petrochemical plant comprises ethan extraction facility, benzene
ethyl facility, styrene monomer facility and 50% of Arya Sasol's
petrochemical plant.

Pars Petrochemical (Plant) is the first petrochemical production
facility which went online and became operational in 2005 in the South
Pars Specail Economic Zone.

Marz-e Por Gohar (MPG) Party

Down with the Islamic Republic

Long Live Iran