TEHRAN – The Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) said its mineral exploration drilling rose by 40 percent in the first four months of the current Iranian year (March 21- July 22), compared with the same period last year.

IMIDRO reported 235,000 meters of core drilling between late March and late July, up from 167,000 meters a year earlier.

For the full previous year, exploration drilling reached 670,000 meters, a rise of more than 20 percent from 556,000 meters a year earlier.

The organization has set a target of 650,000 meters of drilling for the current year, while stressing exploration as a priority for securing feedstock for Iran’s mining and mineral industries.

EF/MA