Baku, Azerbaijan, March 7
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
Iran's copper concentrate production amounted to 893,839 tons in the first 11 months of the current Iranian fiscal year (March 21, 2015- Feb. 20).
The figure indicates an increase by 23 percent compared to the same period of preceding year, the Islamic Republic's Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) reported.
The country's copper concentrate output reached 89,104 tons during the calendar month of Bahman (Jan. 20-Feb. 20), 39 percent more year on year.
Some 172,211 tons of cathode copper as well as 213,980 tons of anode copper were produced in Iran during the 11-month period.
Iran possesses the world's second largest copper reserves. At present, six copper mines are operating in the country.
Iran's copper production capacity stands currently at around 200,000 tons per year and the capacity is projected to be doubled by March 2020.
Iran's proven mineral reserves stand at 37 billion tons.
The country ranked among 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.