The output stood at 506,993 tons in the corresponding period of last year and 63,501 tons in the ninth month of the year (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) to register a 26% decline compared with last year’s similar month, the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization reported on its website.
Tabas Parvadeh Coal Company accounted for 53,542 tons of the total output and Central Alborz Coal Company for the remaining 9,959 tons.
The two companies extracted 135,914 tons of coal during the month under review, up 62% year-on-year, and delivered 59,078 tons of coal concentrates to customers.
Tabas Parvadeh Coal Company had a share of 51,689 tons from deliveries, while Central Alborz Coal Company accounted for the remaining 7,389 tons.
The two companies output during the first three quarters of the current fiscal year reached 535,039 tons. The number stood at 506,993 tons during the same period of last year.
Iranian coal mines, with about 1.15 billion tons of combined reserves, have the capacity to produce up to 3 million tons of coal concentrates annually.
Iranian steelmakers consumed 2.5 million tons of coal concentrate in the last Iranian year (March 2019-20), of which 1.6 million (64%) were supplied by domestic mines and the remaining were procured through imports.
However, based on developments in the industries and with the new steel companies coming on stream, the country’s coal concentrate demand is projected to reach 4 million tons per year.
Experts believe that support from Industries Ministry will help boost the annual coal extraction to 10 million tons, from which 5 million tons of concentrate could be produced.
There are reportedly 185 small- and large-scale coal mines in Iran, of which only 60% are active, IRNA reported.
Around 17,000 people are working in the coal sector, which can be doubled, if the infrastructures are provided to revive the idle mines.