Iran has launched a modern tailings dam at the Zarshouran gold mine, the largest in the Middle East region, amid continued efforts to expand the country’s metals and mining sector.


In a ceremony on Monday, officials from the state metals company IMIDRO opened the Zarshouran tailings dam which will be used to store byproducts of mining operations in an area that is located some 400 kilometers to the northwest of the capital Tehran.

IMIDRO has spent some 1.5 trillion rials ($3.3 million) on the project which took three years to finish. It said in a statement that the facility will boost the company’s environmental credentials and will help increase output at the mine.

Zarshouran has nearly 4 million metric tons of proven gold ore deposits, making it the largest in Iran and in the region.

The launch comes amid Iran’s continued efforts to encourage activity in its metals and mining sector. The country has invested heavily in the sector since 2018 when its crude oil exports came under American sanctions.

Government figures show production and exports of key metals have increased in Iran over the past two years while increased activity in the sector has led to the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs in the country.





By PRESS TV