US sanctions hampering Iran’s environment efforts on flare gas: Minister

Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh says American sanctions have hampered government efforts on environment protection in the oil industry.

According to Press TV, Zanganeh said on Sunday that Iran was unable to import machines and equipment needed to contain flare, the gas burnt or vented at oil and gas production facilities which is highly detrimental to the environment.

“The sanctions are anti-human and anti-environment,” he said, adding, “They don’t let us import equipment we need to prevent sulfur burning or equipment through which we refine non-standard gases.”

The minister said sanctions were hampering shipment of machines ordered and paid by Iran, some of them totally ready for transportation into oil processing facilities south of the country.  

“That is why we say the sanctions have targeted the entire Iranian nation,” said Zanganeh, adding, “They are both anti-human and a crime against humanity.”

Iran has made major progress in using flare gas either for power generation or as a feed to refineries. Recent reports suggested the country has made an investment of above $5 billion in those projects over the past years.

However, Washington’s sanctions that began in November and toughened in May have restricted Iran’s access to part of the technology needed in the field.

The sanctions came as part of an attempt by the American government to cut Iran’s sale of crude to zero and to weaken the country’s ability to tap into its huge oil and gas resources.

ME