Oil is main basis for industrial and economic development in Iran

Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh stated that oil was a main basis for industrial and economic development of the country and should be a centre for producing new technologies.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of “Comprehensive Research Project of Oil Industry Research Institute”, he noted that since research in oil industry affected everyday lives of people, the Oil Industry Research Institute must establish more ties with major oil consumers and companies.
"Although one hundred years have passed since oil discovery in Iran and the country is now a top oil producer, we have not created new technologies. Even technology transfer would need kind of precursor production because technology is a kind of capability not hardware," he said.

Zanganeh stated that there were no limits to research and technology and Iran would introduce top students and researchers to the best universities and research centres in the world.
"The elite should be supported because they are main resources for thenext generation of researchers," he added.

The minister expressed hope that the oil industry research institute would soon play a desired role in developing national oil technology.
Zanganeh noted that sine there were no obstacles in terms of money and resources on the way of research in Iran and other Third World countries, they had to pay more attention to technology, especially those related to oil industry.