According to the latest statistics, 95 inactive small-scale mines were revived in the fourth month of the current fiscal year (June 22-July 22), Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO)’s news portal reported.
“Since the beginning of the fiscal 2021-22 [started March 21], a total of 196 mines have been activated,” IMIDRO reported on Aug. 10.
Iran Minerals Production and Supply Company (IMPASCO) is the IMIDRO body responsible for the revival of inactive mines.
According to an official with the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade, 400 inactive industrial units were activated in the fiscal 2021-22.
Out of 10,170 mines in Iran, 6,861 are active and 3,309 are inactive, according to the latest data announced by Statistical Center of Iran.
From the 6,861 active mines, 6,449 mines were engaged only in production, 289 mines were involved in production and exploration, and 123 were in production, while being equipped.
From 3,309 inactive mines, 289 were only being equipped, 60 mines had less than 30 days of operation, 513 mines had been permanently closed, 208 were temporarily closed and 430 had other reasons for inactivity.
Other causes of mining inactivity were mine blockage, market stagnation, lack of licenses and legal and environmental problems.
Statistics were collected from Feb. 19 to May 1 in the fiscal 2021-22, IRNA reported.
Iran’s mineral reserves stand at 60 billion tons, more than half of which are proven.
The country is home to 68 types of minerals.
According to the United States Geological Survey, Iran holds the world's largest zinc, ninth largest copper, 10th largest iron ore, fifth largest gypsum and barite, and 10th largest uranium reserves.
Overall, Iran is home to more than 7% of global mineral reserves.
According to Ali Rasoulian, an official with the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade, about 400 industrial units have been reactivated since the beginning of the fiscal 2021-22 [started March 21], IRNA reported.
“With the reactivation of these units, 5,291 jobs were revived,” he was quoted as saying.
“There are currently 48,000 small- and medium-scale industrial units in Iran, of which 83% are currently active.”
Saying that the reopening of 1,600 industrial units is on the agenda this fiscal year, Rasoulian noted that metal industry with 25.8%, chemical industry with 22% and food industry with 16.9% had the highest share of reactivated industrial units during the period.
