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MEOG NEWS IN BRIEF MEOG

The MOU is aimed at developing the oil approved projects of the working groups in According to United Against Nuclear Iran
industry’s innovation and technology bases order to implement technological projects, (UANI) estimates, Iran’s daily oil exports in
and expanding the capacity of knowledge- support domestic manufacturers and violation of US sanctions soared from 825,000
based companies and start-ups active in the knowledge-based companies, provide and barrels per day in March 2020 to 1.34 million
oil, gas, refining and petrochemical industries. facilitate the required funds for technological bpd in March 2022, including just under
Under the framework of the MOU, a projects approved by the mentioned 900,000 barrels per day to China.
policy council will be formed with the aim of specialized working groups. UANI announced on Tuesday that its
defining macro policies for the knowledge- The Vice-Presidency for Science and campaign to identify and track rogue vessel
based development of mentioned industries. Technology, on the other hand, is obliged operators engaged in the Iran’s oil and gas
As reported, the vice president for science to provide experiences and implementation smuggling has stymied Tehran’s efforts to
and technology, the deputy oil minister models in all areas covered in the MOU, circumvent sanctions, leading to 100 vessels
for engineering, research, and technology, inform the needs and priorities announced being stripped of their flags by authorities
the deputy oil minister for planning, the by specialized working groups to the worldwide.
secretary of the water and energy technologies knowledge-based companies, and take the The Islamic Republic has a “ghost armada”
development headquarters, and the heads necessary measures to meet the mentioned of 182 rogue foreign vessels -- distinct from
of the oil ministry’s four main affiliated needs through knowledge-based companies but complementing Iran’s own National
companies will be members of the mentioned by holding technology events and exhibitions Iranian Tanker Company fleet – that evades
council. and supply the necessary materials for tracking and scrutiny and skirts US sanctions
In order to accelerate the implementation technological projects and etc. and exploits regulatory loopholes to ship
of the MOU, seven specialized working Over the past few years and especially since millions of barrels of oil.
groups are also going to be formed to the re-imposition of the U.S. sanctions, the Oil Every commercial vessel must be registered
tackle issues in specific areas including the Ministry has been seriously pursuing various to the flag of a country to have docking
upstream sector refining and petro-refining, programs for using the capacities of domestic rights and travel globally, these flag states are
petrochemicals, downstream sector, domestic knowledge-based companies for meeting the responsible for enforcing regulations.
manufacturing of oil industry equipment, oil and gas industry’s technological needs. UANI detects rogue operators misusing
energy consumption optimization, and TEHRAN TIMES flags as part of Iran’s smuggling activities –
ecosystem development. often accompanied by the formation of new
The mentioned working groups will be shell and front companies, ownership and
chaired by the heads of the Oil Ministry’s OIL name changes, and even alterations to ships’
major subsidiaries as well as senior managers physical markings, as well as flag-hopping,
from the Vice-Presidency for Science and Iranian ghost ships which involves repeatedly switching a ship’s
Technology. flag to different national registries.
Based on the MOU, the Oil Ministry is smuggle oil to China The group then alerts relevant authorities
obliged to make the necessary coordination to take action, and when the vessels are “de-
for the formation of the mentioned specialized An advocacy group says the Islamic Republic flagged,” the Islamic Republic is unable to
working groups and holding regular meetings, has illegally sent over 337 million barrels complete the transfer that generates the export
obtain the necessary permits and provide of crude oil to China since 2021, worth revenues.
the physical and legal infrastructure for the approximately $22 billion. IRAN INTL

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