Photos by Hamid Sadeghi, Mehr News Agency

On September 3, a large iron ore concentrate production unit was inaugurated in Iran's southeastern Kerman province. The plant, located in Gol Gohar, Sirjan, has the capacity to produce two million tons of iron ore concentrate per annum.

Gohar Zamin Iron Ore Co. in Sirjan, Iran

Gohar Zamin Iron Ore Co. in Sirjan, Iran

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Iran produced 21.4 million tons of iron ore in the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 20, IRIB reported. The figure showed 16 percent growth compared to the same period last year.

Iron ore concentrate output stood at 56,400 tons in the 8th calendar month of Aban (ended on November 20).

Iranian Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari has said that Iran holds two percent of the world's total mineral reserves.

He added that the mineral reserves include 12 metal and 36 non-metal ores.

Some 5,000 mines are being exploited in the country, he said, adding that around 340 million tons of minerals were extracted in the past year, which ended on March 19.

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