The contract awarded to Technip and Nargan by the National Petrochemical Company of Iran (NPC) for the design and construction of its ethane cracker in the 9th Olefin Complex has just become effective. This project, worth in excess of EUR 200 million, involves the supply of a one million-ton-a-year ethylene steam cracker to be built in the 9th petrochemical complex at Asaluyeh, Iran, on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf. According to this contract, Technip will provide its proprietary technologies, furnaces and processes for the production of ethylene and, with its partner Nargan, will carry out basic and detail engineering, procurement and supply of equipment and materials, supervision during construction and commissioning and start-up as well as training services. These services will be performed by the engineering centres of Technip in Rome, Paris and The Hague, and the Iranian company Nargan, which will execute detail engineering and procurement of materials of local origin. The completion of delivery is scheduled for July 2003.