TEHRAN – By increasing the annual steel output to 18 million tons in the next year, Iran will become self-sufficient in this sector, IRNA quoted Ali-Akbar Mehrabian the minister of Industries and Mines as saying here on Wednesday.

During his visit to Hormozgan Steel Complex, Mehrabian said: “The ministry has developed eight projects to be implemented in different parts of the country. By putting the projects into operation, the country will be able to export its steel surplus in 2009.”
Iran, with a total 10 million tons of the product per year, ranks 21st in the world, the minister said.
“Most of the steel industry’s required equipment and requirements are currently supplied by domestic providers,” the official told, announcing there is no limitation for taking advantage of foreign technologies in the industry