BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 1. A staggering 275 trillion rials (about $477 million) has been invested by the private sector in the development of Iran's three mining companies, Mohammad Aghajani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development & Renovation Organization, told reporters, Trend reports.
Aghajani described that these mining projects will generate employment for more than 2,600 people.
He also highlighted the recent commissioning of the first unit of the Mehdiabad zinc plant, which is considered one of the largest lead and zinc mines in Iran and the Middle East. The 1st unit of the plant will have the capacity to produce 200,000 tons of zinc concentrate and will be officially launched in the near future.
The official also mentioned that a plant for producing 130,000 tons of Kahnuj titanium concentrate is under construction in Kerman Province. The plant is nearing completion, and its operation is expected to boost the region's development.
Agajani further stressed that in Isfahan province, the Hur and Biyabanek potash plant is the first of its kind in Iran and is one of the largest mines in the Middle East. The plant is expected to produce 100,000 tons of potash annually in its initial phase.
To note, about 12,000 mines operate in Iran. It is announced that the mine reserves in Iran are more than 50 billion tons. The average production of Iran's mines is more than 400 million tons per year.