Iran's NIOC chief reports progress in rebuilding the phase 14 refinery at South Pars

Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the National Iranian Oil Company, said on Friday, 31 July 2026, after visiting damaged refineries at South Pars, that the rebuilding of the phase 14 refinery has made significant progress. The remarks were made at a ceremony marking the handover of leadership at the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone Organization, and were reported by Mehr News Agency from the Oil Ministry.

He said production at South Pars gas platforms has continued alongside major platform overhauls and the safe clearing of debris at the damaged refineries. According to him, Pars Oil and Gas Company is drawing on its experience rebuilding the phase 14 refinery, which was damaged in the earlier twelve day war, as it takes on the refineries damaged in the recent conflict.

Bovard said Iran's gas production capacity in the South Pars area has been affected by damage from the attacks, but that coordinated management and round the clock work have contained the consequences. He also described the National Iranian Oil Company's silence about its activities during this period as "an entirely deliberate silence, mindful of the national interest." South Pars is Iran's largest source of gas supply, and its condition bears directly on the winter gas balance, power generation and feedstock for the petrochemical and steel industries.