Bakhtar Petrochemical Company (BPC) (شرکت پتروشیمی باختر), founded February 17, 2003 (17 Bahman 1383 Solar Hijri), is Iran's largest holding company specializing in polyethylene production and one of the country's most significant petrochemical conglomerates. The company serves as a strategic holding and management entity for multiple subsidiary petrochemical plants primarily located along the West Ethylene Pipeline (WEP) corridor in western Iran.
Subsidiary Companies
Bakhtar Petrochemical operates as a holding company managing 10-13 subsidiary production plants, including:
Confirmed Subsidiaries
- Kavian Petrochemical Company (Assaluyeh) – Ethylene production (2 Mt/y)
- Kermanshah Polymer Company (Kermanshah)
- Ryan Polymer Pouya Company
- Lorestan Petrochemical Company (Khoramabad) – 300 kt/y LLDPE/HDPE
- Kordestan Petrochemical Company (Sanandaj) – 300 kt/y LLDPE/HDPE
- Miandoab Petrochemical Company (Miandoab) – 300 kt/y (70% Bakhtar ownership)
- Mahabad Petrochemical Company (Mahabad) – 320 kt/y LLDPE/HDPE (100% Bakhtar ownership)
- Andimeshk Petrochemical Company (Andimeshk)
- Pars Phenol Petrochemical Company / Pars Glycol (Assaluyeh) – 2.93% Bakhtar ownership
- Arian Di Polymer Petrochemical Company (Methanol, PSA)
Additional Entities
- Bakhtar Commercial Company (BCCO) – Trading arm
- Bakhtar Engineering Company – Engineering services
Business Activities
Core Functions
Bakhtar Petrochemical Company operates across multiple domains:
- Production and Marketing: Ethylene, polyethylene (HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE), butene-1, and other petrochemical derivatives
- Investment Facilitation: Attracting and facilitating private and foreign investment in petrochemical projects
- Management Services: Providing supervision during implementation, commissioning, and operational phases of production units
- Joint Ventures: Establishing partnerships with private sector for downstream petrochemical production
- Strategic Management: Overseeing West Ethylene Pipeline infrastructure and associated plants
Product Portfolio
Products from Bakhtar subsidiaries are used in:
- Pipes, toys, electrical insulation
- Detergents, paper, textiles
- Water treatment chemicals
- Various containers, bottles, plastic parts
- Cables and plastic covers
- Industrial parts, home appliances
- Polyethylene films, foams
- Cable covers and automotive components
Production Capacity
Total Capacity
- Combined nameplate capacity of subsidiaries: ~5 million tonnes/year of polymers and chemicals
- Actual production capacity (subsidiaries): ~1.35 million tonnes/year (as of 2023)
- Ethylene production capability: 2+ million tonnes/year (via Kavian)
Market Position
Bakhtar's production contributes significantly to Iran's petrochemical output:
- Ethylene: 2.27% of national capacity
- HDPE/LLDPE: 1.6% of national capacity
- Butene-1: 16% of national capacity
- LDPE: 1.6% of national capacity
Strategic Role
West Ethylene Pipeline Management
Bakhtar Petrochemical is the strategic manager of the West Ethylene Pipeline (WEP), a 2,700 km national infrastructure project connecting ethylene sources in Assaluyeh to petrochemical plants across 12 provinces in western and northwestern Iran.
National Development Objectives
The company was established to achieve multiple strategic goals:
- Develop Iran's third petrochemical hub (after Assaluyeh and Mahshahr)
- Bring petrochemical industry to underdeveloped western provinces
- Create employment and economic development in Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, and West Azerbaijan
- Reduce regional economic disparities
- Position Iran as a major polymer exporter to neighboring countries (Turkey, Iraq)
Industry Position
Bakhtar Petrochemical Company ranks as:
- Largest polyethylene holding company in Iran
- One of the largest polymer suppliers in the Middle East
- Key operator in Iran's petrochemical expansion strategy
With combined capacity approaching 5 million tonnes/year across its subsidiaries, Bakhtar represents approximately 10-15% of Iran's total petrochemical production capacity and plays a central role in the country's non-oil export strategy.
References
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