Iran wants Russia’s help over mine explorations

Press TV , 23 Feb 2015 19:42


(Minews) - Iran said that it wants Russia’s help over the exploration of its underground mineral resources.

“Russia is a capable country in terms of geological studies and studying mines,” said Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad-Reza Nematzadeh.

“This can be a new area for cooperation between Iran and Russia,” he told the visiting Russian Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Sergey Donskoy.   

Nematzadeh further said Iran has made a significant progress over its mining industry over the past few years, adding that the country has devised serious plans to develop mines.

He said the Iranian government to the same effect hopes that the basic agreements that have been signed with Russia over studying Iranian mines would be finalized and made operational as soon as possible.

“Iran has so far developed open-pit mines and except for some coal mines has had no experience over the exploitation of underground mines,” Nematzadeh was quoted as saying by IRNA.  “Therefore, we are ready to use Russia’s experience in this area”.

Donskoy, for his part, expressed Russia’s readiness to expand cooperation with Iran over the mining sector.

He said Iran has great potentials in the area of natural resources, adding that Russia’s cooperation with Iran over the exploration of those resources would eventually help the expansion of relations between the two countries.

Iran is believed to hold more than 7% of the world’s total mineral reserves. It ranks at the 10th place in terms of the variety of mineral resources. The country’s northeastern province of Khorasan hosts its most operating mines.  Key large deposits that still remain underdeveloped are zinc, copper, iron, uranium and lead.   

Iran has signed several basic agreements over the exploration of Zarshouran gold mine in West Azarbaijan, Angooran lead and zinc mines in Zanjan and Sangan iron mine in Khorasan Razavin provinces.  


Story Code: 21761

News Link: http://www.minews.ir/en/doc/news/21761/iran-wants-russia-s-help-over-mine-explorations

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