ARAK, Central Prov. Twenty percent rise was recorded in production of aluminum ingots at Iran's Aluminum Production Company (Iralco) last year, said managing director of the company Mehdi Haji here on Sunday. Haji said that 109,000 tons of aluminum were produced by the company last year. He said the company has exported 25,000 tons of its products to India, the Netherlands and Singapore. He added that 70,000 tons of raw material for production of aluminum ingots were imported last year in exchange for the exports, saving the country $42 million.

Haji said that $21 million plus Rls.30 billion has been spent so far on fighting air pollution caused by his company's activities. (IRNA)