Nafte-Sefid Village Turning into Tourism Center

Director of Petromuseums, Dr. Akabr Nematollahi, has said that Nafte-sefid village is going to be registered and turned into a tourism center.  

In a report titled “A flame is burning here”, Shahrvand newspaper, in its February 19 issue, quoted director of Petromuseums that during the old days there were oil streams in the village which were somehow clean and refined and that the people living in the surroundings used to come to the village to fill their oil lamps with the oil. Taking oil was free at first, but later they had to pay a little money for it.

Director of Petromuseums told Shahrvand newspaper that during the old days, the gas associated with the oil in the village was burnt but today it is sent through the pipeline to the gas refineries for treatment and the residents of the Nafte-sefid village use it for lighting and warming houses.

He continued: when gradually oil factories were launched in these oil-rich areas, the bungalows were built subsequently in order to facilitate workers access to the workplaces.

According to him, the bungalows were separated from each other and people used to live together depending on their ranks in the oil factories. For example, Nafte-sefid village had different houses for high-ranking managers, managers, and workers.

“There was a beautiful camp on top of the hill with swimming pool, club and dormitory where English staff was living. Unfortunately, those residencies are now ruined but they could have been registered as part of the cultural heritage if preserved”, Nematollahi said.

Director of Petromuseums concluded: We are planning to change Nafte-sefid village, which means kerosene in English, into an Eco-Museum while it is likely some of the bungalows to be restored for using as dormitory and inn.  

"Nafte-sefid" village, meaning "kerosene" in English, is located 65 km northeast of Ahvaz, the capital of Iran’s southwestern province of Khuzestan.