IMIDRO Seeking Mining Cooperation With Australia
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – Head of Iranian Mines, Mining Industries Development and Renovation (IMIDRO) calls for cooperation with Australia on mining sector especially in fields of education, exploration, extraction and new technology.
In a meeting with Australian Ambassador to Tehran Ms. Lyndall Sachs, Mr. Khodadad Gharibpoor pointed to the priorities of the IMIDRO in cooperation with Australia, adding that exploration and extraction in depth of the earth are of the main needs of Iran for expanding its mining sector and it is willing to take advantage of Australian companies’ experiences and knowledge in research, development and technical knowhow.
He then referred to this point that Australia is one of the biggest mining countries with related technical knowhow, adding that small mining companies in Iran are also interested in cooperation with Australia in fields of education, exploration and extraction.
Gharibpoor reiterated that it is necessary officials of both countries to support development and strengthening of cooperations between their private sectors.
He then underscored Iran’s position in the steel production in the world, noting that while most major steel producing countries have faced slump in their productions in the first half of the current year, Iran has faced 10 percent growth in steel production.
He went on to say that it is expected Iran to produce over 30 million tons of steel ingot that half of it would be exported.
Gharibpoor also said that Iran has plans to increase steel production capacity in the southern course of the country, stating that currently two 10-million-ton steel production projects are in the works in southern Iran, and imports of iron ore from Australia is one of the appropriate options for those projects.
According to Gharibpoor, each one of the projects needs 30 million tons of iron ore annually. He also emphasized that cooperation with Australia for provision of iron ore is one option for both countries to boost their economic relations.
Meanwhile, Australian Ambassador, for her part, said that Australian companies despite current existing restrictions have always had interactions with their Iranian counterparts in the mining sector as well as food industries.
Sachs also welcomed the proposal for signing the MoU and called for reviewing the topics in the MoU for cooperation to sign it.
She also pointed to holding a mining IMARC conference in Australia, saying that the current edition of the conference will be held on October 27, 2020 in a virtual format but they can arrange for presence of IMIDRO representative for delivering speech in the next year edition.
