SHANA - German petrochemical heavyweight BASF has ordered 180 tons of methanol synthesis catalyst from Iran's Petrochemical Research and Technology Company (PTRC).

According to the National Petrochemical Company (NPC), Esmaeil Ghanbari, PTRC managing director, said the item was 10 years in the making by PTRC and its quality has been approved by BASF as superior to its production and hence has ordered purchase of 180 tons of the catalyst.

"We are pretty glad that development of petrochemical industry via domestic technologies has become a strategic approach in the country," Ghanbari said.

He further added that BASF is also seeking to purchase the technical knowhow of building the item from PTRC, adding, "We are planning to mass-produce the item."