Mineral production capacity to increase: official

TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (MNA) - Managing Director of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) stated that steel, aluminum, copper, iron ore, coke and alumina in the current Iranian year will exceed the year before by 28,46,12,7,33, and 15 percent respectively. The Mehr News Agency quoted Ahmad-Ali Harati-Nik as saying, “For the current (Iranian calendar) year plans were made for the production of 12.1 million tons of steel, 210,000 tons of copper, 350,000 tons of aluminum, 25.5 million tons of iron ore, 1.7 million tons of coke concentrate, and 230,000 tons of alumina.” “According to the plans, this year (ending March 20) the capacity for crude steel will reach 15.8 million tons, cathode copper will reach 255,000 tons, aluminum will reach 457,000 tons, alumina will reach 250,000, iron ore will reach 26.2 million tons and coke concentrate will reach 2.1 million tons,” he said. Harati-Nik noted that last year’s goals were fully achieved and expressed hope that this year’s increased capacity and production will be accomplished as well. IMIDRO aims to survey, prepare for, and undertake construction, development, equipment and renovation projects in metallurgy production industries, mining and exploitation of minerals, as well as operating discovery plans.