Iran to add 336,000 tons/year of aluminum capacity in 2018
October 24, 2017 - Iran plans to add 336,000 tons per year to its primary aluminum smelting capacity in 2018, announced the planning manager of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO).
Amir Sabagh further told S&P Global Platts that South Aluminum Co., or Salco, is building a 300,000 ton/year unit in Asalouyeh, a natural gas hub in Bushehr Province, which is expected to begin production in late 2018.
That project, he added, is financed by China's NFC, or China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co.
Iran Alumina Co., or Iralco, is also boosting its aluminum capacity in the Jajarm region by 36,000 ton/year in 2018, he said.
Iran currently has a nominal aluminum production capacity of 457,000 ton/year, of which about 437,000 ton/year is operational. Iralco can produce 220,000 ton/year and Almahdi Hormozal Aluminum Co. 237,000 ton/year.
Both have idle capacity due to pollution-related issues.
Iran's only alumina plant is a 250,000 ton/year unit in Jajarm owned by Iralco.
IMIDRO is also in talks with a Chinese enterprise on a two-million ton/year alumina project in Asalouyeh, for which no timeline has been announced.
The plant is expected to use bauxite from Conakry in Guinea. Iran has an agreement to import 4 million ton/year of bauxite from Guinea until 2040.
During March 21-August 22 this year, Iran produced 101,520 tons of alumina and 128,679 tons of aluminum while importing 201,122 tons of alumina and 8,299 tons of bauxite, according to customs office figures.