Opening of EPIL's Explosion-Proof Equipment Laboratory

The inauguration ceremony for the first certification body and explosion-proof equipment laboratory in the Middle East was held this morning, attended by several notable figures, including Mahdi Islam Panah, Vice President and Head of the National Standards Organization, Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, Deputy Minister of Industries, Machinery, and Equipment, Payam Bagheri, Vice President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Seyed Mahmoud Hashemi, Head of the National Institute of Standards, Akbar Shabani Kia, Director of Research and Technology Office of Renewable Energy Ministry, Seyed Mohsen Mir Sadri, CEO of EPIL, and Hamid Reza Salehi, Chairman of EPIL’s Board of Directors, along with industry professionals and media representatives.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Mohsen Mir Sadri, CEO of EPIL, highlighted that the most reputable evaluation system for explosion-proof equipment is the IECEx international evaluation system, which provides appropriate tools for manufacturers, legislators, and users. He stated, "The aim of the IECEx compliance evaluation system is to facilitate international trade of equipment and services for use in explosive environments while maintaining the required safety levels. Testing and certifying equipment, services, and personnel according to international standards enable the sale of safer products globally at lower costs."

Mir Sadri added that the company, recognizing the importance of self-sufficiency in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, has invested several billion tomans to reduce production costs and enhance the quality of domestically produced products. They have established necessary hardware and software infrastructures and hired over 90 skilled professionals, all supported by the National Standards Organization, the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, and the Ministries of Oil and Industry, Mine, and Trade in their pursuit of IECEx certification.

He continued, "After a six-day audit by experts from Australia, South Africa, and China, and despite the obstructive actions of the United States, the Israeli regime, and the hostile positions of France, the company successfully obtained the IECEx-compliant certification for the first time in the Middle East."

Mir Sadri emphasized that the actions taken by EPIL to obtain the certification are supported and endorsed by the National Standards Organization, the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, the Ministries of Industry and Oil, and the Ministry of Labor. He asserted, "This achievement addresses the issue of obtaining international compliance certification for manufacturers of explosion-proof equipment without the need for foreign currency outflow."

In concluding his remarks, the CEO requested the head of the Standards Organization to avoid using foreign samples to support EPIL's actions as a reference laboratory and prevent currency outflow.

Establishment of the EPIL Laboratory: A Significant Step Toward Global Trade

Mahdi Islam Panah, the Head of the National Standards Organization, spoke about the government's qualitative approach to producing goods and services, stating, "This government has taken significant steps for quality participation in global markets."

He added, "The establishment of this laboratory is a major step toward quality enhancement and international trade. Thirteen international steps have been taken to establish this knowledge-based and laboratory under sanctions."

Islam Panah highlighted the importance of laboratories in testing goods and noted that EPIL is the first laboratory in the country that can issue quality certificates in accordance with IECEx standards.

He pointed out that this achievement has been realized through the cooperation and efforts of the private sector, emphasizing, "Today, human resources are intangible assets of the country that we must cherish."

In another part of his speech, the Vice President stated that entering global markets is not possible without international interaction. He said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has made efforts to join international trade bodies, including ILAC, which essentially means entering global trade markets. The ILAC standard accreditation body has 28 years of operational history, and joining it will result in significant currency savings, allowing us to compete effectively in global markets."

Islam Panah continued that mutual recognition of commercial certifications occurs through joining ILAC. He added, "Since 2021, with the support of the thirteenth government and around-the-clock efforts, we are striving to gain ILAC membership. Significant actions have been taken during the thirteenth government to join international quality accreditation bodies and global trade organizations."

He concluded with an assurance that good news would soon emerge regarding resolving international issues in quality enhancement, standardization, and global trade.

EPIL Laboratory: Recognized Internationally

In the next segment of the ceremony, Payam Bagheri, Vice President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that industrial development is regarded as one of the pillars of sustainable development worldwide. He stated, "Industrial development is one of the focal points that developed countries pay special attention to."

Bagheri explained that industrial development strategies are long-term approaches that both domestic and international sectors must pursue, and countries that succeed economically emphasize industrial development as it generates wealth and added value, with industrial added value and exports being two key indicators.

He noted that ensuring product compliance with quality, technical, and environmental requirements relies on specific standards, highlighting the critical role of reference laboratories in assessing products against these requirements.

Bagheri added, "EPIL, born from the Iranian Electrical Industry Syndicate and the academic community, is one of the internationally recognized laboratories. The private sector's goal is to create a productive economy, and by establishing such a laboratory, we can meet domestic needs and prevent currency outflow."

Domestic Production of Oil, Gas, and Medical Equipment

Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, Deputy Minister of Industries, Machinery, and Equipment, pointed out the significant industrial and production achievements in the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, stating, "Now, the majority of the equipment and machinery needed for refineries, power plants, and medical purposes are produced domestically. Today, 70% of the equipment for the Assaluyeh oil and gas refinery is manufactured by Iranians."

He mentioned that some of this equipment is produced in Alborz province and supplied to refineries and other industries, emphasizing that heavy valves in the oil and gas sector are domestically produced. "Today, Iranian scholars and scientists are among the world's leaders in manufacturing medical equipment," he stated.

Mousavi noted that of the $3 billion market for medical equipment in the country, $1.5 billion consists of Iranian products, highlighting the significant contributions of Iranian specialists and experts in electric motors, power plant equipment, and other sectors.

He affirmed that substantial strides have been made in various industries through collaboration between industry and academia, and effective cooperation between the Ministries of Industry, Power, Oil, the private sector, and the National Standards Organization has led to the valuable certification for the explosion-proof compliance testing laboratory by EPIL.

In the next part of the ceremony, Hamid Reza Salehi, Chairman of the EPIL Board, stated that until now, domestic products needed to be sent abroad for international quality certification, but now this certification is issued domestically.

He continued, "The establishment of this center plays a significant role in currency savings and streamlining the testing of domestic products. This facility tests various products in the fields of electricity, oil and gas, telecommunications, medical equipment, and electrical engineering."

Salehi stated, "With the establishment of the quality control center and the issuance of international standard certifications, Iran has become the first country in the Middle East to be included in the list of 29 countries holding international quality certification bodies."

He cautioned that the import of some low-quality foreign products damages the domestic industry, adding that quality control branches have been set up in the country’s customs to prevent the entry of substandard products.

Salehi emphasized that international standards are strictly adhered to in this center, which also plays a vital role in enhancing Iran's trade in global markets.