Government lends special support to mining industry

During a cabinet meeting on Sunday afternoon, President Hassan Rouhani said mining sector has great importance for government, so he welcomes investment expansion and further activation of mine and mining industries sector.
He added that the government lends special support to suggestions and plans related to expansion of activities in mine and mining industries sector.
First Vice President, Eshaq Jahangiri, urged economic commission to pay special attention to demands of Mine, Industry and Trade Ministry and Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) and provide legal solutions to the Council of Ministers for supporting mine and mining industries sector.
Mine, Industry and Trade Ministry, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh presented latest report on mine and mining industries sector during the meeting and said there are 5400 active mines in the country and 130 thousand people are employed in the sector. In addition, more than 420 million tons of minerals are mined in the Iranian year of 1392 (2013-2014).
Pointing to importance of mining sector, Industry Minister indicated that with planning of IMIDRO to explore an area of 200,000 km2 since last Iranian month of Bahman (21 January-19 February), mining exploration has been launched in east of the country particularly in Khorasan and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces and it is expected that by the end of this Iranian year, exploration of 100,000 km2 and by the end of next year, exploration of 200,000 km2 to be completed that is double the size of mining exploration history of the country.
Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh also gave some data on mining industries productions and said, crude steel production totaled 15.700 million tons in the Iranian year of 1392 (2013-2014). Also 190,000 tons of copper cathode, 300,000 tons of aluminum ingots, 70 million tons of cement and more than 300,000 tons of ceramics and tiles were produced during same period.
He added that steel export reached to 1.5 million tons in 1392 that isn’t much favorable and should be increased.
Presenting a report on the role of mine and mining industries in economy, Industry Minister called government to give more importance to the sector in resistance economy and anti recession package.
Deputy Minister of Mine, Industry and Trade Ministry and Chairman of IMIDRO, Mehdi Karbasian, presented a report on mine and mining industries situation and participation of private sector in activation of mining exploration in Khorasan and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces.
Announcing the future plans of IMIDRO, he also indicated that mine and mining industries projects which were stalled in recent years, have been activated with participation of private sector during last year.