Iran first OPEC member to make indigenous gas turbine

Iran’s deputy oil minister says the country has become the first member state of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to manufacture indigenous gas turbines.

Mohammad-Reza Moqaddam said Monday that gas turbines are among high-tech equipment whose technology is monopolized by a handful of European and American companies.

“The [Iranian] Oil Ministry has finalized the strategic document for production and manufacture of [Iran’s] national and indigenous gas turbine,” he added.

The official said manufacturing the first national gas turbine follows two years of extensive research and studies by the Oil Ministry.

“A contract has been signed with Oil Turbo-Compressor Company to make a 100-percent indigenous [gas] turbine,” he said.

Moqaddam added that according to the current schedule, the first national Iranian gas turbine will be officially unveiled in 2015.