Gharibpour: Rare metals, gems and decorative stones are on the table of cooperation between IMIDRO and the University of Science and Technology

According to IMIDRO’s Public Relations, today, in a joint meeting with the President of the University of Science and Technology, Khodadad Gharibpour emphasized, "Activities in these three areas of cooperation will pave the way for the development of mining industries with new technologies in our country."
In this meeting, which was also attended by Akbar Turkan, the Chairman of IMIDRO emphasized, “This organization has developed its cooperation with universities and scientific centers, including Sharif University, Tehran University, Amirkabir University, and Jihad Daneshgahi, during the last two years and now these three new topics have provided suitable conditions for cooperation with the University of Science and Technology.

He added: "Recently, with of IMIDRO’s proposal, Chadormelo Mining and Industrial Company started its activities in the field of rare elements and metals, and this field can be promoted with the support of this company and the capabilities of the University of Science and Technology." He continued, “Organizations in Isfahan and Mashhad along with private sector consortiums are taking measures in this field and this sector will be strengthened with the presence of the University.
Referring to decorative stones, Gharibpour said, "Considering the existence of 900 inactive decorative stone mines in the country, there is a good atmosphere for activating these mines with the help of the University of Science and Technology. This will lead to the creation of new jobs in the field of mining using up-to-date knowledge.

IMIDRO’s push to reduce the export duties of decorative stones
Regarding the removal of barriers to the export of decorative stones, the Deputy Minister of Mining Industry and Trade said, "According to the meeting we had with the head of the Trade Development Organization, it was decided to discuss the export duties of decorative stones in the Committee for Correction and Elimination of Tolls and take the necessary measures to reduce it.” He emphasized, “In the field of decorative stones, it is possible to prevent the loss of minerals in the process of processing and cutting stones by using the University arm and new knowledge.”
Diagnosing decorative stone industry
“Iran Minerals Production Company (IMIDRO’s subsidiary) has an ongoing research project that aims to diagnose (production and export) of decorative stone industry,” he noted.

A new document of cooperation with Science and Technology University is being developed
The Chairman of IMIDRO stated, "Considering the new program of cooperation between IMIDRO and the University of Science and Technology, we intend to develop a memorandum of cooperation between the two sides on these issues and sign and exchange a new document."
Necessity of creating bachelor's and master's degrees in stone engineering
In this meeting, Akbar Turkan also recommended, “Using the capacity of the University of Science and Technology to create stone engineering courses at the bachelor's and master's degrees can increase the power and scientific level of the country.
Referring to IMIDRO's actions in the field of rare elements, he said, “The three sections of rare elements and metals, decorative stones and gemstones, can have technological development with the help of the University of Science and Technology."
"The total production of rare elements in the world is 170,000 tons per year, of which China produces 115,000 tons, while the US space industry, for example, is in dire need of 17 rare and expensive elements," Turkan said. According to Turkan, the production of this type of elements does not require huge factory equipment and mainly requires technical knowledge.

Attention to technology ecology by "Science and Technology University"
Meanwhile, Jabbar Ali Zakeri, the president of the University of Science and Technology, referring to the long-term vision of the university, said, "We are currently implementing the last year of the fourth university program and one of our strategies is to develop interdisciplinary and demand-oriented fields."
Zakeri added, "We are not only active in the field of education, but also in those fields that IMIDRO declares a need."
He referred to the scientific background in the Faculty of Materials Engineering and Metallurgy of the University and said: "The upstream industries of aluminum, extraction of rare elements from primary and secondary sources, titanium and copper are among the fields that this faculty has worked on."

"We have one of the most advanced laboratories in the Faculty of Materials and Metallurgy Engineering," he said. " The University of Science and Technology, like other universities in the world, is active in the third generation. Attention to the biotechnology is one of the recent actions of the university."
Amir Khorami Shad, IIMIDRO's Vice President for Development and Empowerment, referring to IMIDRO's cooperation with the University of Science and Technology, said, "IMIDRO has had a joint contract with the university in three areas so far, and participation in equipping the laboratory is a record of bilateral cooperation."
Mohammad Aghajanloo, IMIDRO's Vice President of Mining Projects and Mining Industries, also called for the cooperation of the two sides to strengthen the decorative stone industry and its processing with up-to-date knowledge.