TEHRAN – Feasibility studies on eight development projects in copper industry have come to an end in line with what has been envisaged in the Fourth Development Plan, said the managing director of National Iranian Copper Industries Company (NICIC) here on Tuesday.

Ali-Asghar Purmand also said that development of the third phase of Sarcheshmeh copper condensation unit and the second phase of Songun copper condensation unit, the construction of copper smelting refineries in Songun and Khatunabad and also construction of copper refineries in Songun and Khatunabad, were among these eight projects.

He further noted that construction of sulfuric acid producing factories in Songun and Khatunabad was also among the eight development programs.

Purmand said that these plans were ratified by the Ministry of Industries and Mines and Iran Mines and Mineral Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), and referred to the Management and Planning Organization (MPO) for the final ratification.

Excavations are being carried out in this regard in Ardebil, East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, Kerman and Sistan-Baluchestan provinces, he said.

NICIC managing director expressed hope that the company could reach a 14% growth in mining sulfuric stones, 19% in producing concentrates, 23% in producing anode coppers and 17% in producing cathode coppers.