Rise in Coal Extraction, Concentrate Output

Iran’s two major coal producers extracted 1.32 million tons of coal and produced 482,150 tons of coal concentrate during the 10 months to January 19, registering a 15% and 23% growth in extraction and production respectively compared with last year’s corresponding period. Tabas Parvadeh Coal Company accounted for 1.16 million tons of the extraction figure and 398,895 tons of the concentrate output. This is while Central Alborz Coal Company extracted 153,587 tons and produced 83,255 tons of concentrate, Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization reported. The two companies are subsidiaries of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization—Iran’s largest state-owned mineral holding company. The 20-Year Vision Plan stipulates the production of 55 million tons of crude steel per year, which means blast furnace steel production capacity needs to increase to 6 million tons from the current 3.5 million tons. This calls for the annual production of 3.2 million tons of coking coal and 4.5 million tons of coal concentrate. Stressing the need for further development of coal industry, experts believe Iran’s coal concentrate output currently falls short of the target by more than 3 million tons.