Iran’s Seven-Month Copper Cathode Output Surges

Iran produced 167,789 tons of copper cathode in the seven months to October 22, according to the figures released by the Industry, Mine and Trade Ministry. It shows 3% of growth compared to the output in the first seven months of the previous Iranian year, reported IRNA. The country has posted outstanding figures in terms of copper cathode production and export. Copper cathode is the primary feed for the production of copper rod for the wire and cable industry. Iran launched a new project in July to produce 50,000 tons of copper cathode a year, using bioleaching technology which the plant's CEO calls revolutionary. The project was carried out by the Iranian Babak Copper Co. (IBCCO) with IRR 40 trillion (~US$142.8 million) of investment. Copper cathodes are a basic form of copper used to make products such as copper rods and tubes. The plant is located in Shahr-e Babak in Kerman Province, home to the Middle East's largest open cast copper mine. It uses tank bioleaching process (metal solubilization by microorganisms) which is considered an environmental-friendly and economic method for separating copper from copper sulfide.

"With this opening, we will see the introduction of the latest environmental-friendly technology in the production of copper cathodes to Iran and the world, which will pave the way for a new revolution in copper cathode production," IBCCO Managing Director Mohammadreza Mirzaei said. "The most important factor that makes this production complex an unparalleled example in the world is the use of bioleaching technology for the first time in the world on an industrial scale," he added. The opening of the project, Mirzaei said, provides sustainable direct employment for 400 people. IBCCO is a subsidiary of the Middle East Industries Development Holding Company (MIDHCO) which has initiated copper industry projects since 2010. - Tehran Times