04-08-08 Deputy Oil Minister for refining and distribution affairs Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said that currently ground is being prepared for ceding Tabriz, Bandar Abbas and Lavan refineries to the private sector and related documents will soon be delivered to the Privatization Organization.
Addressing the First Seminar on Oil Industry Legal System and Contracts, he further said that the oil industry has been run for years based on governmental regulations and privatizing the sector needs necessary preparations.

One of the most important steps taken by the Refinery and Oil Products Distribution Company is to pave the way for susceptible companies to enter the Bourse Market, he said.
Referring to holding numerous specialized seminars with an aim of exposing advantages of private sector's involvement in refinery sector, Nematzadeh said that in addition to organizing such seminars, several deals have been concluded with domestic and foreign companies to use their experiences in the field.

Citing regular sessions with the Management and Planning Organization as among necessary undertakings for attracting foreign and domestic capitals to the refining sector and promoting Article 44 of the Constitution, he also said that exchange of views among the relevant institutes gave rise to the ratification of Note 13, which regulated relations between the oil industry and government.
Ameliorating financial structure, and converting private companies to joint-stock companies and compiling necessary information on companies needed by bourse are among other undertakings which will help implement Article 44 in the oil industry.