Page 43 - IRANRptSep18

between Iran and India. Also, with the issuance of electronic visas, Indian tourists can now get their visa at the airport in Iran,” said Mounesan.
He added: "There are good relations between the two countries in the fields of economics, politics and culture, but the exchange of tourists between India and Iran is at a low level, and, with the two nations having good historical ties, there is the possibility that the level will rise."
The Iranian tourism and heritage official thanked the Indian government for allowing visas-on-arrival for Iranians . Iran has likewise made visas-on-arrival available to Indian tourists.
9.1.10 Metallurgy & mining sector news
Iran Minerals Production Company director Behrouz Borna has said Iran will soon reach a production level of eight tonnes of gold a year, Iran Student News Agency reported on August 15. The country, he added, has the potential to explore 1,000 tonnes of gold deposits
Assessed proven reserves of gold in Iran's mines currently stand at 250 tonnes. They are being mined by private, public and foreign investors.
"The Geological Organization of Iran has discovered more than 1,000 promising zones for gold of which we have explored 100 zones," Borna reportedly said, adding that there were at least “16 gold regions to explore in the country.” "According to the discovery results of these 100 zones, in 21 provinces the existence of gold for mining has been proven, and 12 have reached the certification of mining and exploration phase," he added.
"There are currently 24 active gold mines in the country with fixed reserves of 250 tonnes, and their probable reserves are 340 tonnes," he said.
Zarshuran mine has the country's largest gold reserves. It can produce three tonnes of gold per year. After Zarshuran, Sarigoni mine, when completed, will become one of Iran's most significant locations for reserves. It is to target three tonnes of gold production by the end of the current Persian Year (ends mid-March, 2019). Iran is the 11th biggest producer of gold in Asia and ranks 43rd in the world for gold production.
Iran produced 4.8mn tonnes of crude steel in the first quarter of the current Persian year (started March 21), up 17% y/y, Fars News Agency reported on July 17. The country continued to show a strong industrial performance prior to the general decline in economic indicators across the board since US President Donald Trump in early May announced he would re-impose unilateral sanctions on Iran and attempt to squeeze the Iranian economy so hard that Tehran would be forced to renegotiate the nuclear deal. Total finished steel production volume in the first three months of the Iranian year totalled 2.8mn tonnes. Of the total, more than 1.7mn tonnes was produced by Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Company (EMSCO) and SABA Steel Complex. In addition, 568,284 tonnes of finished steel was produced by Esfahan Steel Company, which marked 8% y/y growth.
According to the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), more than 21.8mn tonnes of crude steel was produced in the previous Persian year.
IMIDRO said Iran presently ranked in 13th place for steel production among the 65 leading steel manufacturers around the world.
43 IRAN Country Report September 2018 www.intellinews.com