Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) announced the identification of 1,700 new promising mineral zones across the country. According to the Head of the explorations department of the IMIDRO, Ali Asgharzadeh stated that the stated mineral zones cover a total area of 110,080 square kilometers.
Asqarzadeh also commented about the exploration licences. Noting that the exploration licenses must be set for IMIDRO by the Industry, Mining and Trade Departments of the provinces in which the mines are situated, Asqarzadeh stated that “So far, IMIDRO has applied for exploration licenses for 492 regions with an area of 32,120 square kilometers.”
Stating that licensing processes are underway for 30 zones, and discovery certificates have been issued for four regions, Asqarzadeh added “Some 63 exploration licenses for various minerals such as lead and zinc, gold, copper, iron, coal, brine, etc. have been issued for IMIDRO and its subsidiaries, and exploration operations are being pursued in licensed areas.”
Due to the significant role of the mining sector in the country’s non-oil exports, the Industry, Mining, and Trade Ministry has been pursuing operational targets in the mining sector’s three major areas of exploration, extraction, and processing over the past few years. In line with its aim , in previous year, the ministry had signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding with IMIDRO and the Geological Survey and Mineral Explorations of Iran (GSI) for expansion of the country’s mining sector.
The company is currently collaborating with major mining companies across the country including Khuzestan Steel Company, Mobarakeh Steel Company, Golgohar Mining, and Industrial Company, Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Company, and also Iran Minerals Production and Supply Company.
