The National Iranian Copper Industries Company produced 198,928 tons of copper anode during the current Iranian year’s first seven months (March 21-Oct. 22), down 5% year-on-year, latest data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) show.
A total of 30,057 tons of copper anode were produced during the month to Oct. 22.
A total of 711,945 tons of copper concentrate were produced during the seven-month period, unchanged YOY.
During the seventh month, concentrate output reached 101,350 tons, registering a 9% fall compared with the same period of last year.
The production of copper cathode hit 168,638 tons during the period, up 1% YOY.
A total of 45,405 tons of copper cathode were produced during the seventh month, indicating a 3% rise compared with the same period of last year.
Molybdenum production in seven months stood at 4,270 tons, down 9% year-on-year.
NICICO produced 719 tons of molybdenum during the seventh month of the current fiscal year, registering a 4% decline YOY. It is a leading copper producer in the Middle East and North Africa region and its mines hold close to 14% of Asia’s copper deposits and about 3% of global reserves.
The functions of this company include extraction from copper mines to produce high-grade products such as cathode, slab, billet and 8-mm wires.
Iran’s standing rose to fifth place in terms of global ranking of copper reserves, NICICO’s vice president for development and exploration said, adding that until recently, the country held the seventh largest copper reserves in the world.
“With recent discoveries in Sungun and the addition of 1 billion tons of new reserves to the mine in East Azarbaijan Province, as well as the discovery of new reserves in other mines of the company, including Sarcheshmeh, Miduk and a new mine near Sarcheshmeh in Kerman Province, the volume of the company's copper reserves increased from 18 billion tons to 19 billion tons,” Behrouz Rahmati was also quoted as saying by Fars News Agency.
Sungun Complex, located in East Azarbaijan Province, is Iran’s largest copper mine.
Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex is the world’s second largest open-cast copper mine located in Kerman Province. It also contains substantial amounts of molybdenum, gold and other rare metals.
“According to the United States Geological Survey’s latest report, following these explorations, the ranking of our country has risen to fifth place after Chile, Australia, Peru and Russia,” Rahmati said.
