Rise in Iran’s Copper Cathode Output

Iran produced 49,989 tons of copper cathode during the two months to May 21, which marks a 16% growth compared to the figure for the same period last year. Iranian copper complexes smelted 25,373 tons of copper cathode during the month to May 21, marking a one% rise compared to the related figure for last year, IRNA reported. The production of copper concentrate in Iran hit 214,854 tons during the two-month period, according to statistics. Iran produced 106,487 tons of copper concentrate during the month to May 21, it added. A sum of 62,325 to1% growth compared to the corresponding output last year.

In May 2020, four development projects, worth about US$952.3 million, were inaugurated by President Hassan Rouhani in the copper sector of the southeastern Iranian province of Kerman. All pertaining to Khatoonabad Copper Complex, the projects included increasing the complex’s copper smelting capacity as well as building a copper concentrate storage facility, a sulfuric acid production plant and an oxygen-supplying unit there.

The completion of the first project helped increase the complex’s copper anode production capacity by 50%, to reach 120,000 tons. It has also caused the country’s copper smelting capacity to rise to 400,000 tons per year. This project has created 120 jobs. Some IRR 1.1 trillion (~US$4.5 million) plus US$118 million were invested in this project. The second project, which was the construction of a 60,000-ton storage facility, was implemented with IRR 158 billion (~US$859,000), plus €3 million in investments. It has generated 250 jobs. The value of investments in the third project amounted to IRR 750 billion (~US$3.1 million), plus €100 million. The fourth plan was implemented with investments worth  IRR 192 billion (~US$800,000), plus €31 million. - Iran Daily