All Iranian citizens can own a mine if they go through the required procedures and inquiries, says Ali Hemmati, the head of Fars Province’s Organization of Industries, Mining and Trade. “The legal process includes evaluation and inquiries from the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization and Department of Environment,” he was quoted as saying by IRNA. Hemmati noted that 159 mines have been handed over to private investors during August 2013-October 2015 with a total investment of $441.1 million, creating 100 employment opportunities.
