22 May 2012
Private sector's investment in gold exploration sector has been guaranteed, said deputy head of Geological Survey of Iran on Monday, adding no risks exist in investing in mining sector.
Speaking in a ceremony to mark Mining Week (May 21-27), Behrouz Borna said according to the mine by-law, ceding gold mines to those from non-state sector involved in discovering the said mines is among the priorities of the organization, and therefore, private sector's investment in this field has been guaranteed, IRNA reported.
He put the amount of proven and probable gold reserves nationwide at 23 tons and 62 tons respectively, and announced that new areas with the probability of holding gold reserves have been located in Kurdestan and Sistan-Baluchestan provinces.
The official also pointed to an area with the probability of having 19.5 million tons of iron in Isfahan province.
Borna noted that 17 metal mineral areas exist in the country, adding that in the last Iranian year (ended March 19) the issue of metallic and non-metallic strategic reserves was raised in the country.
He said public exploration has begun in 50 identified mineral areas, noting some 100,000 meters have been drilled for depth identification.
He put emphasis on the proper utilization of extracted minerals, and said although China owns some 19 percent of the world's proven mineral reserves, it invests in other counties to gain access to their resources.
This is while last year, Iran exported about 10 million tons of iron ore to China.
Earlier, the caretaker of Industrial Development and Renovation Organization said Article 44 of the Constitution and the updated Mine Bylaw have helped prepare the ground for the participation of private investors in projects related to mine and industries sectors.
Vajihollah Jafari underlined the need for cooperation between the managers of the state-run and private sectors in this respect.
Although fruitful steps have been taken in the fields of mine discovery, exploration and processing, the mineral sector has failed to occupy an appropriate position in the country's economy, he noted.
The official said that the non-governmental institutes play a very important role in amending the mines bylaw, pointing out that thanks to the efforts by related institutes including Mine House, a large number of the problems have been solved.
The plan on strategies of the mine sector is near completion he said, adding those who are involved in mineral activities can present their views to related officials soon.
Iran is among the 15 major mineral-rich countries and exports industrial and mineral products to 159 countries, including Iraq, China, the United Arab Emirates, India and Afghanistan.
Private sector's investment in gold exploration sector has been guaranteed, said deputy head of Geological Survey of Iran on Monday, adding no risks exist in investing in mining sector.
Speaking in a ceremony to mark Mining Week (May 21-27), Behrouz Borna said according to the mine by-law, ceding gold mines to those from non-state sector involved in discovering the said mines is among the priorities of the organization, and therefore, private sector's investment in this field has been guaranteed, IRNA reported.
He put the amount of proven and probable gold reserves nationwide at 23 tons and 62 tons respectively, and announced that new areas with the probability of holding gold reserves have been located in Kurdestan and Sistan-Baluchestan provinces.
The official also pointed to an area with the probability of having 19.5 million tons of iron in Isfahan province.
Borna noted that 17 metal mineral areas exist in the country, adding that in the last Iranian year (ended March 19) the issue of metallic and non-metallic strategic reserves was raised in the country.
He said public exploration has begun in 50 identified mineral areas, noting some 100,000 meters have been drilled for depth identification.
He put emphasis on the proper utilization of extracted minerals, and said although China owns some 19 percent of the world's proven mineral reserves, it invests in other counties to gain access to their resources.
This is while last year, Iran exported about 10 million tons of iron ore to China.
Earlier, the caretaker of Industrial Development and Renovation Organization said Article 44 of the Constitution and the updated Mine Bylaw have helped prepare the ground for the participation of private investors in projects related to mine and industries sectors.
Vajihollah Jafari underlined the need for cooperation between the managers of the state-run and private sectors in this respect.
Although fruitful steps have been taken in the fields of mine discovery, exploration and processing, the mineral sector has failed to occupy an appropriate position in the country's economy, he noted.
The official said that the non-governmental institutes play a very important role in amending the mines bylaw, pointing out that thanks to the efforts by related institutes including Mine House, a large number of the problems have been solved.
The plan on strategies of the mine sector is near completion he said, adding those who are involved in mineral activities can present their views to related officials soon.
Iran is among the 15 major mineral-rich countries and exports industrial and mineral products to 159 countries, including Iraq, China, the United Arab Emirates, India and Afghanistan.
© Iran Daily 2012
