Iran's Steel Production to Rise 1m Tons, Says NISCO Director
Harati-Nik said that Iran's annual established production capacity currently stands at about nine million tons, and that the national production of steel casting in the country is about 7.5 million tons.
He told IRNA that Saba project, which is the expansion of Isfahan Steel Mill, will become operational next month with a production capacity of 750,000 tons, adding that Meybod and Zagross projects will be inaugurated in March each with a production capacity of 370,000 tons.
Harati-Nik also said that 6.2 million tons of steel have been produced in Iran in a period of 10 months starting March 21, 2002.
This, he added, indicates some seven percent rise compared to the same period last year, and shows that 97 percent of the programs to promote national steel production in accordance with the Third Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2000-2005) have been accomplished.
The NISCO director further said that the annual production of steel in Iran for the next Iranian calendar year of 1382 (starting March 21, 2003) has been estimated at 8.13 million tons, adding that in 1382 Iran's steel production will for the first time surpass eight million tons.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Harati-Nik put the annual domestic demand for steel at 11 million tons, adding that some 3.5 million tons of that amount is imported and the rest is produced by Iranian steel plants.
He also said that once the Hormozgan steel project comes on stream with the help of the private sector, the national production of steel will hit the stated target of 14.7 million tons per year.
Harati-Nik said the Iranian Foulad Paya and Irtik together with the German/Italian Mannesmann De Mag have won an international tender to develop the Hormozgan plant, adding that the consortium are currently seeking the credits required for the project.