“The beneficiation plant uses low-grade hematite iron ore extracted from Jalalabad Iron Ore Mine,” said Karbasian, who also doubles as the head of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization. He added that the project has been implemented with an investment of 1.57 trillion rials ($35.6 million) by Fakoor Sanat Tehran Engineering Company, Shata reported. The plant, with an annual production capacity of 600,000 tons and part of Jalalabad Iron Ore Complex, is capable of beneficiating 30% grade hematite iron ore to up to 67%, a level deemed proper for use in the steel industry. In the mining industry, beneficiation refers to a process that removes gangue minerals from ore to produce a higher grade product. The beneficiation plant’s construction started in late 2013 with private sector investment. Jalalabad Iron Ore Complex, located in Zarand County in Kerman Province, is home to over 190 million tons of the steelmaking material with an annual production capacity of 870,000 tons, Financial Tribune reported.