TEHRAN – National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) has launched a major digital transformation program to modernize its supply chain, with all domestic oil tankers set to be equipped with real-time monitoring systems within two years, a senior official said.
Farzad Barzegar, adviser to the NIORDC head, told Iran Petroleum Monthly that the “smart supply chain” project prioritizes tighter oversight of pipelines, refineries and tankers to boost efficiency, cut risks and curb fuel smuggling.
Formed in 1991 to unify fragmented operations in refining, fuel transport and distribution, NIORDC is now shifting its vast nationwide network onto a fully data-driven platform. Barzegar said the company was building a system in which sensors and automated collection tools feed a central data structure, forming the basis for later deployment of artificial intelligence in operations such as fuel distribution planning.
He cautioned against common misconceptions that equate artificial intelligence with consumer-facing chatbots. “In industry, AI is the final layer of a strong, error-free data structure,” he said. Hardware investment and reliable data collection remain the main challenges before advanced applications can be introduced.
The official said NIORDC is mapping all points in the supply chain that require sensors, while reactivating existing but unused ones. Once a complete data infrastructure is in place, AI engines can be trained to support planning and decision-making, he added.
EF/MA