Iran's next oil minister outlines agenda

TEHRAN, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The nominee for Iranian oil minister said moving forward with a multibillion-dollar energy reform package topped his potential national agenda.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last week announced a controversial list of 11 new ministers for his next Cabinet, nominating Massoud Mir Kazemi to replace Gholamhossein Nozari as the oil minister.

The nominee, the current commerce minister, said he would put a five-year development plan for the energy sector at the top of his national priority, the semiofficial Mehr news agency reports.

Iran has plans for 24 separate projects worth $15 billion to produce petrochemical products in 2009. Another $25 million will go to fund 46 new projects under a five-year development plan.

Mohammad Ali Khatibi, the Iranian governor for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, said national energy officials supported the nomination. Hamid Reza Katouzian, a lawmaker on the energy commission in the Iranian Parliament, however, raised objections to his nomination due to his inexperience.

Nevertheless, Tehran is keen to push reforms in its sanction-laden energy sector, courting foreign investors and touting domestic energy developments.

"His presence at the Oil Ministry will further promote the status of oil industry as a strategic commodity of our nation," Ahmadinejad said of his nomination.