Iron ore extraction mines topped the list of mines in environmental spending with 327.3 billion rials ($2.87 million), followed by copper ore mines with 47.5 billion rials ($416,745) and lead and zinc ore mines with 34.86 billion rials ($305,850).
A total of 789 mines (14.7% of the total) spent on environmental protection during the period.
The report shows that 1,450 mines (27.1%) had wastewater management systems. Sand and gravel extraction mines topped the list among those who had the largest number of wastewater management systems with 576 mines, followed by ornamental stone mines with 361 and limestone mines with 276, Financial Tribune reported.
The provinces of Isfahan, Fars and Kerman had the highest number of mines with wastewater management systems, with 168, 157 and 140 respectively.
The total volume of wastewater produced in Iranian mines, which had wastewater management facilities, stood at 37.05 million cubic meters during the year.
Among the 1,450 mines with wastewater management systems, 850 had wastewater treatment systems. Of this figure, 721 used physical treatment methods, while 34 used chemical treatment methods and 94 used biological methods.
Regarding wastewater dumping sites, 739 mines used non-agricultural lands, 282 mines used wells, 167 used rivers, 120 used agricultural lands, 22 used wastewater networks, 11 used lakes/ wetlands and 162 used other sites to dump their wastewater.