Tehran, May 29, IRNA-Eight new steel producing plants would be established in different parts of the country, the English-language `Iran Daily' wrote Sunday.

The daily quoted an official at Iran's Mine and Mineral Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) as saying that besides development of the existing steel producing plants and boosting their outputs, establishment of a number of new plants have been envisaged in the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan (2005-2010).

He added that the factories would be established in Bandar Abbas, Kerman, Zarand, Sirjan, Bafq, Ardakan, Meybod and Torbat-e Heidarieh.

Pointing to the steel production in the country, he said "It is expected that during the fourth plan, some 29 million tons of steel to be produced in the country." Referring to a call by the organization for private sector's investment, he noted that his organization supports activities by the private sector.

He added that the organization is ready to take part in the rojects and introduce the investors to the banks for receiving low-profit loans in a bid to guarantee the security of investments.