TEHRAN, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said that Iran has become self-sufficient in manufacturing equipments for oil exploration and production despite tough sanctions against the Islamic republic's oil sector, Tegran Times daily reported on Wednesday.
"The country's oil industry has attained self-sufficiency in procuring equipment and facilities for exploration and extraction of oil products," Qasemi was quoted as saying.
Iranian academics, scientists and oil industry officials have transformed anti-Iran sanctions into opportunities, he said, adding that "had the enemy not imposed economic sanctions on the country during the Islamic revolution's three-decade life, we would not have reached self-sufficiency in domestic manufacturing. "
On Tuesday, semi-official Mehr news agency reported that a large oil products storage facility with the capacity of 350 million liters was inaugurated in Iran's southeastern city of Kerman. According to the report, the project cost 53 million U.S. dollars.
The facility includes 4 kerosene tankers, 5 gasoline tankers, 2 diesel fuel tankers and 2 jet fuel tankers.
Iran is under unilateral Western sanction pressure on its crude oil and natural gas exports. The West has accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian nuclear program, a charge Tehran has consistently denied.
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