TEHRAN – Iran Industries and Mines Ministry is prepared to extend its exploration activities to the ironstone mine in Herat region of Afghanistan, chairman of the Industries and Mines Committee at Majlis told the Persian service of IRNA on Sunday.

Geologically, Herat mine is the extension of Sangan Ironstone Mine in South Khorasan Province of Iran and the exploration projects in Iranian side could also be directed towards the Afghan part, Mohammadreza Sajjadian continued, stipulating that the talks between Iranian Embassy in Kabul and officials there have reached a consensus on this venture.

“The final decision rests with Afghan government and the approval is expected to be announced soon,” he said.

The ironstone factory in Sangan is anticipated to increase Iran’s steel production to 28 million tons per annum as envisaged in the Fourth Plan (2005-2010). The plant is at the moment capable of producing 2.6 million tons of concentrates and ironstone agglomerate annually.