Unprecedented Collaboration of Private Sector with IMIDRO

Karbasian said: “Ninety percent of the Organization’s projects have been outsourced including through private sector partnership and this measure is in line with the policies of economy of resistance and macro planning of the 11th government.”
Chairman of IMIDRO Board of Directors said such an achievement was made as a result of collective efforts of the staff, managers and experts of IMIDRO in different sectors of planning, finance, logistics and support, research, development, training, etc.
He pointed to a performance report presented to President Hassan Rouhani during his visit to Sistan and Baluchestan Province and Chabahar Free Zone and said IMIDRO with a 19% share has been able to define the 1.6 million ton sponge iron project in Chabahar with the private sector capital, adding that the agreement for its implementation is predicted to be signed by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2015).
Deputy Industry, Mines and Trade Minister added that conducting mining explorations in the eastern strip of the country especially in Sistan and Baluchestan, is among the points which has attracted the attention of the president.
He said installation of equipment for the antimony ingots producing plant in the coming months is among other projects that have been implemented in the province.
He referred to projects such as South Aluminium which have been delayed for a long period of time but have been implemented.
According to Dr. Karbasian, the LC for this project was opened and communicated after eight years and through a 10-month follow-up by IMIDRO.
He stressed that commencement of the South Aluminium project as the largest project for the production of this metal in Iran means activation of energy intensive industries in Lamerd Zone in Fars Province.
Dr. Karbasian believed that provision of 1050 billion rials as IMIDRO’s share for such a project has not been an easy task but has been fulfilled through great effort.
He also referred to the signing of an agreement for the development of infrastructures in the energy intensive industries of Lamerd Special Energy Zone as another measure of the Organization. He said the project is to be implemented in an area of 400 hectares.
Karbasian said: “(The mechanism of) attraction of investors for Gol Gohar 5 and 6 projects with an aim of financially boosting IMIDRO and promotion of the private sector has been defined and implemented.”
He referred to exploratory activities in Tabas coal mine and nepheline syenite mine, inauguration of Zarshuran gold project, launching and delivery of Venezuela’s cement factory as measures taken despite low credits.
Deputy Industry, Mines and Trade Minister pointed to Sangan mines projects to obtain 17.5 million tons of concentrates and 15 million tons of pellets and noted that presence of private sector consortiums was accompanied by attraction of 15000 billion rials investment.
Launching implementation operations of two power plants in the Persian Gulf Special Mining Industries Zone and the call for 8 projects in Supply and Production of Minerals Company were among last year projects.
According to Karbasian, the nationwide exploration operation has been launched in 135 thousand hectares of land and with the projects of Supply and Production of Minerals Company it will exceed 200 thousand km.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of IMIDRO also announced that except for Qaenat and Sabzevar projects which will become operational in coming weeks, all provincial steel projects have exited recession and their sponge iron sector will go on stream next year.
According to the official, a comprehensive steel plan has been finalized and sent to the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade for final approval.
Dr. Karbasian also referred to the establishment of a bureau to follow up and implement rare soil plans.
The semi-industrial titanium plan in Kahnuj, south of Kerman is attracting investment and will start operation and will be self-managed.