Iran oil revenue fund had $23.3 bln in 2006

Iran's Oil Stabilisation Fund had $23.3 billion in 2006, a 142 percent rise on the previous year, a state news agency said on Monday.

The fund grew by an average 25 percent a year since it was set up in 2000, ISNA said, barring a drop in 2001.

It said the account accumulated $666 million in interest by 2006 and that most of the Fund's lending was for industrial projects. Figures since 2006 have not been published. Iran, the world's fifth largest oil exporter whose economy is heavily oil-dependent, set up the reserve fund in 2000 to help protect the economy from market fluctuations.