Baku, Azerbaijan, July 17
Trend:
About 84,235 tons of aluminum ingot was produced in Iran in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (started March 2018), according to the data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO).
The output indicates a rise by 8 percent when compared to the first three months of the preceding fiscal year.
Iran’s aluminum output in the last calendar month (May 20-June 21) accounted to 30,432 tons, 13 percent more year-on-year.
Over 340,000 tons of aluminum ingots were produced in Iran in the last fiscal year, ended March 2018, 1 percent less year-on-year. Meanwhile Iran’s annual aluminum demand stands at about 500,000 tons.
Iran’s aluminum ingot production capacity stands at 487,000 tons per year. The figure is planned to reach 780,000 tons by 2020 and 1.2 million tons by 2025.
Over 61,825 tons of alumina powder was also produced in the country during the 3-month period, which was 167 tons less compared to the same months of the preceding year, according to the report.
Alumina is a refined version of the raw ore bauxite. It is typically used to make aluminum, but in its high purity or 'chemical grade' form, it has non-metal applications that have sensitive military uses.
Over 240,167 tons of alumina powder was produced in the country in the last fiscal year, registering a rise by 2 percent year-on-year.
The country also produced 215,774 tons of bauxite in the first three months of the current fiscal year, 10 percent more year-on-year.
Iran's proven mineral reserves stand at 37 billion tons. There are over 10,000 mines in the country out of which about 6,000 are actively engaged in production and the rest remain idle.
The county’s annual output from its mines stands at 400 million tons and construction materials account for 60 percent of the total output.
Exploratory operations in aluminum and iron ore mines are the top priorities of Iran’s Industry, Mines, and Trade Ministry for making investments.
Aluminum and iron mines are also among the top four discovery priorities.