SHANA - The managing director of Lordegan Petrochemical Plant said his facility will become operational by 2018 with �502m of investment by China.

Mohsen Zarei Far said the project, which is being developed for production of feedstock for ammonia and urea fertilizer plants, has so far progressed 69%.

Fed by natural gas, the project has been fully financed by Chinese investors by �502m.

"The items and parts used for construction of the plant were supplied by domestic and foreign manufacturers," he added.

Located in the western province of Chabahar Bakhtiari, the plant is situated 55 kilometers off Lordegan County.

The plant is being developed for production of 2,050 tons of ammonia and 3,350 tons of urea annually.