TEHRAN, July 27 (Shana) -- Deputy Minister of Petroleum Marzieh Shahdaie said on Wednesday that Ministry of Petroleum and National Iranian Petrochemical Company consider themselves responsible for environment protection.

Shahdaie made the remark in the joint session of general managers of the petrochemical industries in Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone, Vice-President and Head of the Department of Environment Masoomeh Ebtekar and Governor General of Khouzestan Province Shariati on Tuesday.

Shahdaie said clean environment is the absolute right of the people of region.

�All petrochemical facilities have the duty to embark on controlling and checking environment pollution under critical conditions because petrochemical industry considers itself accountable before citizens.�

She referred to recent fire in Bou Ali Sina Petrochemical Facility in Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone and said it is a grave experience for all directors.

�Constant supervision should be on agenda of all petrochemical companies� activities so as to prevent such incidents as that happened in Bou Ali Sina Petrochemical Facility.�

Shahdaie accompanied Ebtekar in inauguration of environment protection executive operations in Mahshahr PETZONE.

She went on to say that the goal of construction of petrochemical facilities in the region had not been pollution, rather old-style designing and technologies and financial restrictions had been the hidden �chains in the petrochemical industry esponsible for the pollution.

She said while undergoing progress, petrochemical industry has paid special attention to environment protection and now online monitoring is going on and more than 250 experts are working in petrochemical facilities for the purpose as the Department of Environment emphasized on the issue.

She emphasized that petrochemical facilities are committed to their social responsibilities. �The Petrochemical industries have always been loyal to their organizational social liabilities, having favorable cooperation with the Department of Environment. Conclusion of a deal to compile environmental exigencies and standards are among programs ahead.�

Shahdaie said efforts have been made to observe standards and prepare environmental equipment and implement the projects of public services.

�On the horizon, we should observe legal mandates and act on our social responsibilities,� she concluded.

By SHANA