More than 150,000 tons of coal concentrate were produced in the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2016-17), indicating a 54% increase compared to last year’s corresponding period, Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization has reported on its website.
The output for the Iranian month of Khordad (May 21-June 20) stood at 60,246 tons, which shows a 278% surge.
The 20-Year National Vision Plan (2005-25) stipulates THE production of 55 million tons of crude steel per year, which means blast furnace steel production capacity needs to increase to six million tons from the current 3.5 million tons. This requires an annual production of 3.2 million tons of coking coal and 4.5 million tons of coal concentrate.
Experts believe Iran’s coal concentrate output currently falls short of the target by more than three million tons, stressing the need for further development of the coal industry.
