BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 13
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:
The copper production increased by more than 15 percent in Iran from March 21 through September 22 since beginning of this Iranian year (began on March 21, 2019), Iran's Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Reza Rahmani said.
Rahmani made the remark at the event dedicated to the commissioning of 11 industrial and mining projects in Rafsanjan county of Iran’s south-eastern Kerman province, Trend reports referring to the ministry’s website.
“This increase is 18 percent more for the copper industry than the planned figure,” the minister added.
Rahmani added that the National Iranian Copper Industries Company is expected to beat the record by producing about 260,000 tons of copper cathode this Iranian year (March 21, 2019 - March 21, 2020) and 300,000 tons of copper cathode next Iranian year (March 21, 2020 - March 21, 2021).
The Iranian minister said that in terms of the copper reserves, Iran ranks 8th in the world. Presently, the proved copper reserves in the country are estimated at more than 34.5 million tons.
"A few years ago, these estimates of the reserves were more than 22 million tons," Rahmani said.
Speaking about the implementation of 11 mining and industrial projects, the minister said that 116 trillion rials (about $2.76 billion) were invested in these projects and 1,700 people were employed in mining and industrial facilities.
"Moreover, other projects are being also implemented in the copper industry,” Rahmani said. “More than 2.5 billion euros have been invested in these projects.”
“Through these investments, plants are under construction in Kerman, East Azerbaijan, Sistan and Baluchestan and Yazd provinces,” Rahmani said.
The Iranian minister added that the Khatoon Abad Copper Refinery Plant will be commissioned in Kerman province next month.