SHANA - The first phase of a major petrochemical project in the southwestern city of Masjed Soleyman has progressed 80% so far.

According to the official news website of the public relations department of the National Petrochemical Company (NPC), the project is expected to come on-stream in the first month of the next Iranian fiscal year in March 2019.

Managing director of Masjed Soleyman Petrochemical Project Yousef Davoudi said the project has created 1,500 direct jobs, adding completion of value-chain is one of the goals considered in development of the project.

He said consideration of health, safety and environment measures of the project is key in development of the project by the contractor, adding accelerating installation, pipe laying and pre-commissioning of the plant's utilities unit are planned to be carried out this calendar year.