According to the International Iranian Stone Exhibition, Siamak Haj Seyed Javadi, International Advisor of the Iranian Stone Association, in a special news talk show, while pointing out that more than 2,000 mineral units in the country have mining licenses, stated: Of this number, only about There are 1100 active mines. Therefore, about 50% of the country’s stone mines are closed and the remaining 50% are mined at half capacity. When it comes to strategic planning, you have to see the future for at least the next 20 years.
“There is $ 2 billion in trade from major competitors in the global market,” he said. Turkey has reached 2.5 million tons of exports after 30 years; Therefore, we can not say that we want to achieve 140 million square meters in four years.
According to the statistics of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade, the nominal capacity of Iran’s mining units is 30 million tons. According to global statistics in 2019, Iran’s total mineral production was eight million and 250 thousand tons; Meanwhile, the country’s production in 2018 was 9 million tons, and about six years ago it reached 12 to 13 million tons.
Haj Seyed Javadi continued: “This shows that in the last few years, we have reduced production by an average of 400,000 tons per year.” Unfortunately, there are no accurate statistics in the mining sector of Iran and it cannot be documented that there are really several units of stone cutting and processing plants in Iran; But according to unofficial statistics, there are between 6,000 and 6,500 units, of which about 1,000 units are inactive and the rest are operating at about 40% of their production capacity.
Pointing out that the domestic market is one of the biggest advantages of our country, the global market analyst said: “The domestic consumer market is about six to eight million tons, which supports the country’s stone industry.” Iran is the fourth largest producer of stone in the world after China, India and Turkey; Therefore, with accurate five-year planning, it is easy to reach a production capacity of 20 million tons per year, but we must meet domestic needs before exporting.
Mining machinery, the huge problem of the country’s stone mines
Regarding the problems of the country’s mines and activists in this field in relation to mining machinery, which has become very challenging these days, the international advisor of the Iranian Stone Association said: “Currently, the big problem of the country’s stone mines is the supply of heavy machinery and more. Repairs and spare parts for these machines are very staggering and in themselves an important challenge. It is not even possible to import second-hand machinery, and miners have to procure worn-out machinery from the Isfahan market and neighborhoods.
Haj Seyed Javadi stated: Nowhere in the world does an investor or a miner do zero to 100 jobs himself; Therefore, financial facilities should be provided. The life of heavy machinery in building stone mines is at least 10 years. If foreign exchange is allocated and the Ministry of Silence and Customs does not withhold its support, it is easy to pay off all debts and generate added value with the income from mining.
He stressed how machines can be purchased when the central bank does not allocate the required currency; He said: Of course, 2,000 billion tomans of facilities are very low for 2,000 stone mineral units. Meanwhile, in the next stage, the miner will face customs and will face problems.
The advisor of the Iranian Stone Association stated that this issue needs macro-management on a large scale and the Ministry of Silence should act as a trustee and solve the problems with the Central Bank; He stated: The Ministry of Silence should receive the amount of 2,000 billion Tomans from the insurance fund and buy machines. Of course, when we order 500 loaders and excavators, we also receive a more reasonable price, equipment and spare parts, and provide them to the miners on bail.
The global market analyst blamed the country’s main weakness in exports on sanctions, currency transfers, and transportation costs. “Turkey, as our competitor, currently exports $ 30 to $ 40 per tonne of stone,” he said. But the Iranian exporter for exporting processed stone to the European market is out of the market of global markets; Because it has problems with sea transportation and has to spend about $ 220 for land transportation, which is five times the cost of Turkey; Accordingly, our exporter is taken out of the shopping cart of global markets.
Regarding the support of Turkey to its miners, Haj Seyed Javadi said: “Turkey has full support for its industry, which includes the provision of machinery, banking facilities, participation in international exhibitions, manufacturing technology and machinery for processing stone, etc.” ; Therefore, in other words, the bed needed by the industrialist has been done in Turkey. With a strategy, Turkey has been able to reach the leader in the export of limestone from zero in 30 years.
Advisor to the Iranian Association, while pointing out that there are good granite stones in South Khorasan that are exported and have a relatively competitive advantage with other producing countries; He said: We play the first letter in the marble section.
Haj Seyed Javadi announced: It has been decided that the Iranian Stone Association, in cooperation with Imidro (Iran Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization), will make a comprehensive report on the development of the Iranian stone industry in the direction of export; Of course, this action is still in the initial stage of preparing statistics.
Source: www.iranstoneexpo.com
