Zagros Petrochemical, a subsidiary of the Iranian National Oil Company, is building a new DME (Dimethyl Ether) plant with a capacity of 800,000 metric Tons Per Year (MTPY) of DME at Bandar Assaluyeh, Iran. Zagros is using technology and catalysts developed by Haldor Topsøe A/S of Denmark in collaboration with the Iranian Petrochemical Research & Technology Company (NPC-RT).

DME, as posted earlier, is a clean burning (completely sootless) synthetic fuel that can substitute for conventional diesel, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or be reformed into hydrogen for fuel cells.

When complete this plant will increase global production capacity of DME by more than 200%. Bandar Assaluyeh is along the Persian Gulf Coast, and close to the large South Pars gas fields.  An enthusiastic Haldor Topsøe notes:

This represents a breakthrough for the application of DME as a green fuel.