"Modernization of machinery" and "development of technological infrastructure" main factors for achieving the growth goals of the mining sector / ‎Cooperation Program with Foreign Companies to Produce New Generation of Mining Machinery

Mohammad Aghajanlou, speaking at the National Mining Day commemoration held at the Tehran International Exhibition Center attended by the Minister of Industry, mine, and Trade, highlighted IMIDRO's support for domestic manufacturing and mining machinery over the past two years. He stated that the Mining Activities Insurance Fund has played a significant role in these supports, At the same time, for the import’s issuance permits, appropriate cooperation has been carried out.

The Deputy Minister of Industry, mine and Trade, referring to the imported machinery, added: "In the past two years, both new and used machinery have been imported into the country, but the share of second-hand machinery was more."

Productivity is the key factor in achieving the 13% growth in the mining sector, Aghajanlou stated.

He added: 45% of this growth will be achieved through increased productivity, and part of it will be realized with modern and appropriate machinery. According to him the continuation of work with outdated machinery and the fluctuations in fuel prices do not provide much economic feasibility and justification.

Joint Production Program

He announced negotiations and agreements with foreign companies for financing and foreign investment and added: in the near future, foreign investment will be implemented in cooperation with domestic contractors. Foreign parties will select Iranian contractors with the aim of producing new generation machinery with higher capacity.

Aghajanlou identified the increase in mine productivity as conditional upon the development of technology and digital transformation and added: imidro is collaborating with the Ministry of Communications to develop fiber optic infrastructure and connect the country’s mining databases. Coordination has also taken place with the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology and the Presidential Center for Technology Development in the field of technology. He also announced the support of knowledge-based companies and collaboration with universities to identify and develop new mining technologies.

In the first step, three mines were selected as pilots for smartization, which include an open-pit mine, an underground mine, and a mine in the processing sector.

The Deputy Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade emphasized that in case of success, this model will be extended to other mines in the country, also mentioned the transfer of 270 exploration licenses in the form of provincial and regional packages as part of Imidro's upcoming plans.