Tehran Times cited Mehdi Ghazanfari industry, mine and trade minister of Iran as saying that Iran’s copper production capacity stands currently at around 220,000 tonnes per year and the capacity is projected to be doubled by the end of the fifth five year development plan (2015).

Mr Ghazanfari said that Iran holds around 57 billion tons of proven and probable mineral reserves worth around USD 770 billion placing the country among the top ten countries in terms of mineral reserves.

Mr Ardeshir Sa’d Mohammadi MD of National Iranian Copper Industries Company announced in December 2011 that more than IRR 80 trillion has been invested in Iran’s copper industries since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year which started on March 21st 2011.

Mr Sad Mohammadi said that some 36 million tons of copper is extracted annually in the country and the figure is projected to increase to 70 million tonnes next year. Iran is now at the ninth place in the world in terms of copper reserves.

(Sourced from tehrantimes.com)