Iran’s annual copper production to reach 440,000 tons by 2010...

Iran’s annual copper production to reach 440,000 tons by 2010

Tehran Times Economic Desk
TEHRAN - Iran National Copper Company (INCC) managing director Ali-Asghar Purmand said here on Saturday that through the implementation of eight national plans to develop the national copper industry, the country’s annual copper production is projected to hit 440,000 tons by the end of the Fourth Development Plan (2005-2010) in March 2010.

He went on to say that some 187,000 tons of copper cathodes were produced by the INCC during the previous Iranian calendar year (March 2005-March 2006) and the figure is projected to increase to 190,000 tons in the current year.

He explained that the implementation of the eight plans to develop the national cooper industry is totally dependent on the approval of the Economic Council, adding that the INCC has drafted eight plans and submitted them to the government for study and approval.

Purmand said that 1.3 to 1.5 billion dollars of funding will be required for the implementation of the second phase of the plan to develop the national copper industries.

He pointed out that the preparation of infrastructure capacity and the reduction of expenses during the first phase of the plan would reduce INCC production costs, thus allowing higher returns on investments.

He stated that the eight plans to develop the national copper industry include the launch of the second phase of the Sarcheshmeh copper condensing unit to produce 200,000 tons of 28% copper concentrates, the development of the smelting unit of the Khatunabad refinery to produce 100,00 tons of copper cathodes and 120,000 tons of copper anodes annually, the construction of the Khatunabad sulfuric acid factory with a projected capacity of 750,000 tons, the launch of the second phase of the Songon copper condensing unit to produce 150,000 tons of 30% copper concentrates, the construction of cathode and anode production units at the Songon refinery, and the construction of a sulfuric acid factory in Songon.

On privatization of the state copper industry, Purmand said that the major decisions must be made by the government, but the preparatory measures should be taken by the INCC.

He also asserted that Iran’s copper industries and all Iranian metal industries can be competitive in international markets.