TEHRAN – According to the Fourth Development Plan, the production rate of the cathodic copper is scheduled to be increased to 350,000 tons, and the production amount of the copper concentrates will be increased to 827,000 tons by the end of the program.

In order to achieve this ideal, the National Iranian Copper Industries Company has included some activities on its agenda such as continuation of the Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine Development plan, the second phase of the plan to develop condensation of the Sarcheshmeh copper, the second phase of the Songon plan, the plan to develop the copper melting of Khatunabad, the construction of a new refinery and the hydrometallurgy plan.

According to the Third Development Plan, the copper production amount was scheduled to increase to 280,000 tons from the former 145,000 tons.

Considering the inauguration of the first phase of the plan to boost Sarcheshmeh copper condensate – which will annually add some 160,000 tons of 28% karat copper concentrates to the copper production capacity - the realization of the aforesaid prediction would depend upon the production of some 175,000 tons of cathodic copper and also the inauguration of the two Meydok and Khatunabad projects.

Therefore, the production of 280,000 tons of copper is still vague.