According to the minister, several iron ore concentrate projects are expected to become operational by the yearend, including Zarand Iron Ore Company’s second iron ore concentrate manufacturing plant with a production capacity of 2 million tons per year, in addition to two iron ore concentrate plants in the city of Jiroft in Kerman Province, one with 1,000 and the other with 100,000 tons in annual output capacity. The self-sufficiency move is part of the Industries Ministry’s long-term plan to raise Iran’s steel output by 24 million tons by the end of the year, IRNA reported.