Zinc Smelters Operating Below Capacity

Iranian zinc smelting plants use only 150,000 tons of their 450,000-ton production capacity, the head of Iran Lead and Zinc Exporters Association said. “Lead and zinc exploration and extraction suffered underdevelopment under the previous administration,” Hassan Hosseinqoli was also quoted as saying by IRNA, adding that the lack of feedstock has caused zinc smelters to operate at 33% of their actual capacity. According to the official, all of Iran’s lead and zinc smelting and processing companies are privately-owned though they have to rely on state-owned mines to procure their raw materials.