An MOU on implementing basic engineering services for the establishment of Soungon copper smelting factory was signed between the National Iranian Copper Industries Company and the Finnish firm Outotec.
The plant will have a capacity to produce 200,000 tons of anode copper and 750,000 tons of acid.
The Mehr News Agency quoted Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) stating the MOU was inked by Vice President of National Iranian Copper Industries Company, Ahmad Faridi and Outotec company senior director of Basic Metals Department, Lars Helle.
Faridi said the National Iranian Copper Industries Company will be the first firm in the Middle East to use flash smelting and flash converting technology in Soungon factory which is the state of the art technology in smelting and converting copper.
Iran will be the third country after the U.S. and China to apply this technology which is more eco friendly compared to older methods, he added.