A memorandum of understanding was signed between Mehdi Jamalinejad, General Governor of Esfahan, and Gholamreza Bagheri Dizaj, CEO of Esfahan Oil Refining Company for the use of chatbots (artificial intelligence assistants) in investor attraction processes.
The governor of Esfahan referred to the optimization projects at the Esfahan Refinery and said the optimization projects underway at the Esfahan Refinery with a desired investment volume of 4.5 billion euros have been discussed in previous years and are being implemented, some of which have been put into operation and others are in the final stages.
Jamalinejad said according to the refinery managers’ report, quality improvement projects at Esfahan Oil Refining Company will not only improve the quality of refinery products, but will also provide an important part of the country’s fuel and reduce environmental pollution. Jamalinejad also announced the unveiling of an artificial intelligence-based investment chatbot system at the Esfahan Governorate, which was developed using the capabilities of Esfahan Refinery’s artificial intelligence experts. He also said this smart platform was designed at Esfahan Refinery and helps investors plan their projects based on the provincial planning document.
Supporting the implementation of EORC industry projects
The CEO of Esfahan Refinery, while presenting the company’s important projects, also referred to the legal requirements for implementing quality improvement projects at Esfahan Refinery. He said EORC has 15 projects under implementation in the past, which require 4.5 billion euros in credit to complete. Fortunately, 1.5 billion euros have been provided for these projects and it is expected that the remaining credit for these projects will be provided within five years, until 2029.
Bagheri Dizaj compared income and expenses in 2025 and said the most important suggestions for national support for the refining industry are to minimize profit distribution until the implementation and operation of optimization projects. Bagheri Dizaj listed reforming feed and product pricing policies and reforming gas and fuel prices for refineries as other suggestions.
Smart Chatbot, a way to guide investors
On the sidelines of the signing of this memorandum, which was held in the presence of the governor, his deputies, and senior managers of the province, the deputy head of artificial intelligence systems at Esfahan Oil Refining Company referred to the purpose of signing the memorandum of understanding to launch a smart chatbot between the governor’s office and Esfahan Oil Refining Company in investment consulting processes in the province.
Mansour Khademi pointed out that the purpose of launching the smart chatbot is to facilitate the process of attracting capital in Esfahan and across the country and said based on the signed cooperation agreement, the smart chatbot will be launched as a pilot to guide investors in Esfahan province and then expanded nationwide.
He said this chatbot, by analyzing investors’ needs and information, guides them in choosing the best areas of investment, predicting profitability, and also obtaining the necessary permits. This system was developed in cooperation with the Economic Deputy of the Esfahan Governorate and its goal is to facilitate the investment process.
Khademi said one of the challenges facing investors has been the lack of accurate information about investment opportunities, profitability, and the steps to obtain permits. The new chatbot, by providing step-by-step guidance, removes confusion from investors and makes the legal path to obtaining permits clear for them.
The deputy head of artificial intelligence at EORC stated although direct connection to licensing systems is not currently possible, this chatbot will help investors by providing details of administrative processes so that investors can act with more awareness. This smart tool is expected to play an effective role in attracting capital and economic prosperity for the province and the country.
