Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.3
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Launching a new sulfuric acid production unit at Iran's zinc production plant in Qeshm Island will save 65 billion rials (about $2.6 million) for the country annually, IRIB reported on December 3.
The unit was established at a cost of 85 billion rials (about $3.4 million) and has the capacity to produce 180 tons of sulfuric acid per day, which is necessary in the zinc reduction process.
The project will create 69 direct and indirect jobs.
The country's proven mineral reserves amount to 40 billion tons, of which 98 percent is mainly iron ore, zinc, and lead, according to IRNA.
Iran has about 68 kinds of minerals, and 20 other types of minerals have been identified through recent explorations.
Iran's mineral production includes coal, metallic elements, sand and gravel, chemical minerals and salt.
It has the world's largest zinc reserves, holds the second largest copper deposits and ranks ninth for its iron reserves.