Record extraction of 9.4 million tons at Miduk; 40,000 tons of copper mineral at Sarcheshmeh

me-metals: Dr. Seyed Mostafa Faiz, CEO of the National Iranian Copper Industries Company (NICICO) visited Sarcheshmeh and Shahr-e Babak copper complexes.

According to me-metals cited by Mes Press, Coinciding with the visit of the CEO of the National Iranian Copper Industries Company (NICICO) to the Sarcheshmeh and Shahr-e Babak copper complexes, reports presented during production meetings at these facilities indicate growth exceeding targets across various segments of the copper production chain, alongside new records in extraction and processing; notably, by May 28, copper mineral production at the Sarcheshmeh complex reached 40,000 tons, while the Miduk mine set a new record in its operational history by extracting 9,401,000 tons during the month of Ordibehesht (April 21–May 21).

Dr. Seyed Mostafa Faiz, CEO of the National Iranian Copper Industries Company (NICICO) visited Kerman Province, where he inspected the production lines and development projects at the Sarcheshmeh and Shahr-e Babak copper complexes. He also attended specialized production meetings at both facilities, receiving updates on the latest production status, operational performance, and the progress of development projects.

Sarcheshmeh Copper; Production Growth

According to a report presented at the Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex’s production meeting, the complex’s performance from the beginning of the current year (Iranian Solar Year) through May 28 exceeded projected targets across several key indicators. During this period, copper concentrate production reached approximately 195,000 tons, marking a 4.5 percent increase relative to the plan. Additionally, the copper of the mined ore reached 40,000 tons, exceeding the planned target by 4 percent.

The complex's performance in the sulfuric acid production sector was also rated as favorable; production volume reached 93,000 tons, exceeding the projected target by more than 5 percent.

Performance reports for the Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex also indicate a 10% increase in the tonnage of concentrate produced in the slag concentration unit, reflecting the effective utilization of existing capacities and improved production processes in this sector.

Shahr-e Babak Copper Complex: Setting a Record

At the Shahr-e Babak Copper Complex, production reports also indicated that new records had been set in the extraction and processing sectors. According to this report, the total volume of extraction from the Miduk copper mine reached 9,401,000 tons in the month of Ordibehesht (April 21–May 21), marking a 15.6% increase compared to the previous monthly record set in August 2025 .

Additionally, the volume of sulfide ore processed at the Miduk concentration plant reached approximately 753,000 tons, marking a 1.8% increase compared to the previous monthly record set in 21 March -21 April 2023.

According to the report presented at the meeting, despite a decline in ore grade, the production of contained copper during the first two months of the current year (Iranian Solar Year) showed a significant increase compared to both the planned targets and the same period last year — a result attributed to the implementation of corrective measures, a reduction in downtime, and improvements in production processes.

Development based on an economic perspective

The CEO of the National Iranian Copper Industries Company (NICICO) emphasized the necessity of increasing productivity, managing resources, and purposefully advancing development projects during the production meetings held at these two complexes.

Highlighting the importance of an economic perspective in the implementation of development projects, Dr. Faiz stated that projects must proceed based on economic viability and returns, and lead to increased productivity.

Emphasizing the need for resource management given the country's current circumstances, he also commended the efforts of managers and staff at the Sarcheshmeh and Shahr-e Babak copper complexes to achieve sustainable production, and called for persistent follow-up to resolve obstacles and accelerate the completion of projects.