The new head of National Iranian Oil Co., or NIOC, has presented a 19-point action plan to improve Iran's oil and gas industry, the oil ministry's official Shana Web site reported Monday.
Seyfollah Jashnsaz, the former head of National Iranian South Oil Co., was appointed Sunday by Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari as the new managing director of state-run NIOC, Shana reported.
Jashnsaz took over at the helm of NIOC from Nozari, who had been in charge of both the oil ministry and the state oil firm since his appointment as the oil minister last year.
According to Shana, Jashnsaz aims to improve oil resource management through gas injection and "to increase the country's potential in crude oil and natural gas production in accordance with the current reserves," Shana reported.
In addition, Jashnsaz plans to merge "parallel structures for smooth execution of executive affairs" and to improve efficiency and to develop "engineering and decision-making departments," Shana said.
Jashnsaz also intends to increase private sector participation in downstream activities and to develop human resources in the oil sector, Shana reported.
Iran, the second largest oil producer among Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, presently produces about four million barrels a day of crude and aims to raise output beyond that level in coming years.
However, U.S. sanctions on the Islamic republic have prevented the inflow of much-needed investments into the country's oil and sectors, and the transfer of technologies, including for gas liquefaction.