Tehran, Iran, April 16
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Mohammad-Reza Bahramman said that absorbing foreign investments is necessary to boost the country's mining industry, Iran's IRNA News Agency reported on April 16.
The managing director of Iran Mine House added that three decades ago Iran was only capable of extracting 100 million tons of minerals per year, but currently the figure has increased to 370-390 million tons.
"In order to achieve the set goals, the mining industry also needs the government's support," he said. "Iran is among top 10 countries in the mining sector."
Iran's proven mineral reserves stand at 37 billion tons.
The country ranks among the 15 major mineral-rich countries of the world and exports its industrial and mineral products to 159 countries, including Iraq, China, the United Arab Emirates, India and Afghanistan.
The important mines of Iran include coal, metallic minerals, sand and gravel, chemical minerals and salt. Iran has the world's largest zinc and second largest copper deposits and ranks ninth for its iron reserves.