Baku, Azerbaijan, June 25
By Temkin Jafarov - Trend:
The employees of the Iran Central Iron Ore Company in the city of Bafg have held a sit-in protest for about 40 days, according to chairman of the Islamic Council (municipality) of the city of Bafg, Muhammad Abbasi.
Abbasi said that 5,000 mine workers are protesting against the sale of a 28.5 percent share of the mine to the private sector, Iranian ILNA news agency reported.
The representatives of the Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade promised to try to overturn the decision, he said.
The minister said that the sitting protest began on May 17.
"A meeting with the participation of Iran's First Vice President Ishaq Jahangiri should be held, however the exact date of the meeting is still unknown. The responsible persons act from different positions on the sale of shares of the mine to the private sector. This is why workers did not stop the protest. They demand the abolition of the decision and return of the mine to the balance of the state," Abbasi said.
At present, Iran produces 18 million tonnes of iron ore annually. Three million tonnes are exported to other countries, the rest part is used in steel mills in Isfahan and Ahvaz.
Edited CN