The Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) has released a new report on the production of iron ore concentrate, pellet and iron ore in the form of fines/lumps during the first five months of the current fiscal year (March 20-Aug. 21).
The report shows the output of the first two steel production chain materials rose while the third dropped during the period under review compared to last year's corresponding period.
Concentrate Output Passes 20m Tons
Over 20.37 million tons of iron ore concentrates were produced in Iran during the five months under review to register a 3% rise compared to the corresponding period of the year before.
Golgohar Mining and Industrial Complex accounted for 6.69 million tons of the total output (down 1% YOY), followed by Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Complex with 4.67 million tons (up 9% YOY), Goharzamin Iron Ore Company with 2.77 million tons (up 30% YOY), Middle East Mines and Mining Industries Development Holding Company with 2.3 million tons (up 34% YOY), Iran Central Iron Ore Company with 1.7 million tons (down 19% YOY), National Development Industrial and Mineral Company with 1.07 million tons (up 18% YOY), Opal Parsian Sangan with 909,305 tons (down 27% YOY), Sabanour Mining and Industrial Development Company with 579,577 tons (up 60% YOY) and Jalalabad Iron Ore Complex with 192,993 tons (down 11% YOY).
Iranian steel mills produced a total of 4.33 million tons of iron ore concentrate during the fifth fiscal month (July 22-Aug. 21) to witness a 13% rise compared to the corresponding month of last year.
Concentrate production capacity is estimated to hit 68.5 million tons, while actual production would reach 58.1 million tons, realizing 85% of the capacity by March 20, 2021.
An IMIDRO report on under-construction iron ore concentrate production units suggests that a total of 23.15 million tons/year is expected to be added to Iran’s iron ore concentrate production capacity by the time the development of all these units is complete in the fiscal 2023-24.
Sangan Steel Mining Industries Company located in Khaf County of Khorasan Razavi Province will have a 5-million-ton/year of production capacity upon completion. It is expected to become operational by the end of this Iranian year (March 2021).
Kaveh Pars Steel Company, also located in Khaf, will become operational in the fiscal 2021-22. It will have a capacity of 2.5 million tons/year upon completion.
Pasargad Steel Complex will have a production capacity of 2.5 million tons/year. Located in Shiraz, capital of Fars Province, the project is expected to be launched by the fiscal yearend.
The second phase of "Gohar Zamin Iron Ore", located in Sirjan, Kerman Province, will have 2 million tons/year capacity and will come on stream in the fiscal 2022-23.
Also coming on stream during the fiscal 2022-23, "Sharq Mineral Supply & Production Company" and "Khorasan Steel Complex Company", located in Khaf, will have a production capacity of 2.5 million tons upon completion.
The development project of "Opal Parsian Sangan" in Khaf will have 2.4 million tons/year of production capacity. It is expected to be inaugurated in the fiscal 2023-24, during which the third phase of "Gohar Zamin Iron Ore" unit located in Baft, Kerman Province, will also be complete. The latter project will have a production capacity of 4 million tons/year.
Pellet Output at Over 18m Tons
A total of 18.71 million tons of iron ore pellets were produced in Iran during the five months to Aug. 21 to register a 6% rise compared with last year's corresponding period.
Golgohar was the largest producer with 5.2 million tons (up 3% YOY).
It was followed by Mobarakeh Steel Company with 3.15 million tons (up 3%), MIDHCO with 2.75 million tons, (up 14% YOY), Khouzestan Steel Company with 2.41 million tons (down 11% YOY), Chadormalu with 1.53 tons (down 12% YOY), Opal Parsian Sangan with 1.32 million tons (down 8% YOY), Sangan Mineral and Industrial Company with 1.11 million tons (up 76% YOY), Khorasan Steel Company with 656,111 tons (up 41% YOY) and Sabanour with 188,288 tons (up 15% YOY).
Iran’s pellet production hit 3.92 million tons in the month to Aug. 21, registering a 22% jump YOY.
Pellet production capacity is expected to reach 66.4 million tons, as actual production is predicted to total 55.3 million tons, realizing 83% of the capacity.
IMIDRO's latest report on under-construction iron ore pellet production units indicates a total of 25.92 million tons are expected to be added to Iran’s iron ore pellet production capacity by the time these units are completed in the fiscal 2023-24.
The first phase of Gohar Zamin unit in Sirjan, Kerman Province, will create 5 million tons/year of production capacity. It is expected to be inaugurated in the current Iranian year (March 2020-21).
Located in Bafq, Yazd Province, Sechahun Pellet Plant will have a 5-million-ton/year of production capacity upon completion. The unit is expected to become operational this year.
Pasargad Steel Complex will add 2.5 million tons/year to the country’s iron ore pellet production capacity. Located in Shiraz, capital of Fars Province, the project is also due to be launched this year.
Roshtkhar Steel Complex, located in Khorasan Razavi Province, is expected to become operational in the fiscal 2022-23. Its production capacity will be at 1.2 million tons/per year.
Kaveh Pars Company, located in Khaf, Khorasan Razavi Province, will have a production capacity of 2.6 million tons/year and will come on stream in the fiscal 2023-24.
Also coming on stream during the fiscal 2023-24, Baft Pellet Plant, located in Baft, Kerman Province, will have a production capacity of 2.5 million tons/year when completed.
The development project of Sabanour Mining and Industrial Development Company, in Kurdestan Province, will add 0.92 million tons to the total production capacity of the country. It will be inaugurated in the fiscal 2023-24.
Sanabad Pellet Plant, located in the city of Sangan in Khaf County of northeastern Khorasan Razavi Province, was inaugurated on June 11, by President Hassan Rouhani via videoconferencing.
Sanabad Tose'e Faragir Industrial and Mineral Company’s Pellet Plant has a production capacity of 2.5 million tons annually, Mehr News Agency reported.
Developed by National Development Industrial and Mineral Company, 13 trillion rials ($58 million) have been invested in the project that has created 200 direct jobs.
Iron Ore in the Form of Fines/Lumps
A total of 537,697 tons of iron ore in the form of fines/lumps were produced in Iran during the five months under review to register a 53% fall compared to the corresponding period of the year before.
Iranian Central Plateau Iron Ore Mines Complex accounted for 235,857 tons of the total output (down 43% YOY), followed by Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Complex with 186,800 tons (no YOY change), and Iran Central Iron Ore Company (ICIOC) with 115,040 tons (down 60% YOY).
The three complexes produced 135,104 tons of the mineral during the month ending Aug. 21.
