Mineral Extraction to Reach 500m Tons

IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade said the knowledge required in mining industry has been localized, adding that the extraction of minerals will reach to 500 million tons from 470 million tons in the past years.

Reza Rahmani said good investment has been done in mine industries such as aluminum, iron, and copper which are produced three times more than the country’s consumption.

Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade who attended the inauguration ceremony of copper production projects in Kerman, southeast Iran, on Thursday stressed the domestic production in the field noting that copper reserves discovery has been tripled.

Rahmani said currently 64 types of minerals has been identified in Iran, noting that Iran is among the top 10 countries in mining industry.

“Our country has taken the mining industry program seriously with the emphasis of the Leader of Islamic Revolution and the government, and last year’s explorations have been as large as the country’s total explorations so far, which shows the country’s mining position will flourish,” he noted.

He referred to the decrease in selling mineral raw material and attributed it to the adoption of appropriate regulation, which has led to the production of products with high added value.

Announcing that exploration is a priority in the mining sector for the current year, the minister said the large projects this year will lead to employment for more than 10,000 people.

He added that last year over 470m tons of minerals were extracted in the country and this year the ministry is determined to increase the figure to over 500m tons, adding that 35 percent of extractions account for metals.

Rahmani noted that some big actions have been taken and this year the country will see a revolution in privatizing the mines.

On Thursday, President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated four big projects of copper industry in Kerman province.

The inauguration ceremony was held through a video conference from Tehran.

Some 252 million euros investments have been made on the project of Khatoon Abad copper smelting complex and three other projects in Kerman province.

The president noted that reducing fossil fuel consumption, making use of modern technologies and boosting production are the advantages of the project.

During the ceremony President Rouhani stated that inauguration of landmark national projects in the country is a strong response to the global arrogance by Iranian workers, entrepreneurs and officials.

Iran completes national projects despite the sanctions, President Rouhani said at an inauguration ceremony on four major projects on copper industry in southern Iranian province of Kerman.

Despite the U.S. sanctions, Iran creates job opportunities and exports its products, the president added.

There is no way but production to meet the country’s needs in the sanctions era, and also in the critical situation that the country is fighting against the deadly coronavirus since late February, Rouhani said.