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Gol Gohar at a Glance

The Gol Gohar mineral area having rich iron ore mines is one of the most active industrial-mineral poles in the Middle East and has high capabilities for changing into a large and competitive zone in Iran and even in the world.

The Gol Gohar mineral area having rich iron ore mines is one of the most active industrial-mineral poles in the Middle East and has high capabilities for changing into a large and competitive zone in Iran and even in the world. These mineral reserves are located in Kerman Province, 50 kilometers southwest of the city of Sirjan. The existing works and the excavations remaining in the place of the deposit indicate that this area in the past centuries had been identified and exploited. The approximate age of a sample of the old Gol Gohar furnace slag has been estimated at 900 years.

In the contemporary era, exploration and survey operations plan of Gol Gohar iron ore was launched in 1348 (1969-1970) by the private sector Barite Company and later continued with cooperation of the Japanese Marvini Company and since 1353 (1974-75) was ceded to the National Steel Company of Iran.

The Gol Gohar deposit is located in six separate anomalies with a total reserve of over 1200 million tons in an area with an approximate length of 10 km and width of 4 km.

The oldest mass which is currently under exploitation is Mass No. 1 with a reserve of about 250 million tons. After extensive exploration studies and preparedness, the mass was given priority due to its proximity to the surface and being more promising in terms of exploitation and possibility for extraction through open-pit mining.

Active Manufacturing Plants

Concentrate Production Lines 1, 2 and 3:     

In an effort to prevent crude retailing and creating added value in products, the Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company in 1373 (1994-95) started operation of the two iron ore processing plants with a capacity of 4 million tons per year and then in 1381 (2002-2003) by establishing another two-million-ton line the total concentrate production in this company amounted to 6 million tons. In these plants the iron ore lumps with an alloy of about 50% are turned into iron ore concentrate with an alloy above 67% in 45-micron size. 

Concentrate Production Line 4:

The fourth production line started operation in 1387 (2008-2009) with an aim of increasing concentrate production line and using the returned load of the grinding circuits of lines 1, 2 and 3 with a capacity of 2 million tons and in the calendar month of Tir 1390 (June/July 2011) became operational. In this plant the iron ore lump after three stages of breaking and being turned into 2 cm pieces together with the returned load of the three previously mentioned production lines will enter into HPGR (high-pressure grinding roll) and ball mills and after passing through magnetic separation and watering stages, the final concentrate with a moisture of 8%, size of 300 micron and alloy of 67 to 68 percent will be obtained. 

Concentrate Production Lines 5 and 6:

Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company in continuation of its development path and in line with its annual vision, has placed design and construction of concentrate lines 5 and 6 on the agenda. This plan has been designed with an aim of producing 4 million tons of concentrates per year in which it takes the crushed iron ore with an alloy of about 50% with maximum dimensions of about 30 mm. Currently it produces concentrates with an iron alloy of about 68%, maximum dimensions of 80 microns and maximum moisture of 8%. In this plan, in each production line three crushing units have been used which, with the addition of a floatation unit, this line has been distinct from similar production lines in the region. The plan was put into operation in Mordad 1394 (July/August 2015-2016).  

Hematic Reprocessing and Desulfurization Plant

Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company in an effort to optimally use the coated tailings in the current concentrate production lines, from the very beginning up to now, has reached more than 12 million tons of dry and 8 million wet tailings. It has also started plans for desulfurization from produced concentrates, construction of a recycling line from the wet tailing with a production capacity of 350 thousand tons per year, a recycling line from the wet tailing with a production capacity of 220 thousand tons per year and a desulfurization line with a production capacity of 460 thousand tons per year since 1384 (2005/2006) and completed and launched in the first half of 1389 (2010-2011). 

Pelletizing Plant No. 1

Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company in order to complete its value chain and with regard to the anticipated high sulfur in iron ore and its gradual increase in future that would face the sale of produced concentrates with difficulty, as well as the accelerated increase in steel production in the country, the increasing needs of the steel making units to iron ore pellets and inclusive use of the pellet in blast furnaces in Iran and other parts of the world, brought to attention construction of a pellet making unit in the vicinity of Gol Gohar Mine. The initial studies and surveys of the pellet making units with a capacity of 2.3 million tons started in 1373 (1994-95) and after a series of talks with foreign companies and changing the capacity, the plant was finally inaugurated in 1389 (2010-2011) with an annual production capacity of 5 million tons. 

Pelletizing Plant No. 2

In line with the realization of Vision Plan 2025 for Gol Gohar area, establishment of the plant with a capacity of 5 million tons started in 1391 (2012 – 2013) and was put into operation in the month of Aban (October/November) 1395.   

Plant for Production of Explosive Materials

Based on the assessment conducted on the need for waterproof explosive materials and the plan for extraction of iron ore from the regional mines, the Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company took measures for the establishment of a factory for the production of emulate with an investment of 1627 thousand euros and 699.3 million tomans and in a 10-month period the factory was constructed and is now operational. With regard to the volume of its production, the need of Gol Gohar factory to waterproof explosive materials has been completely met and in addition to cuts in production costs the risks of transportation of the materials has been minimized.

Development Projects

Development-Infrastructural Projects

Gohar Energy, the Persian Gulf Water Supply and Transfer, Gohar Tarabar, and Gol Gohar Area Development and Management companies are in charge of providing infrastructures required by Gol Gohar in the Vision Plan. The projects include: 

Energy Supply

The Gohar Energy Company in this regard has taken measures for purchase of Semnan combined cycle power plant with a capacity of 330 MW electricity, as well as construction of two units of combined cycle power plant with a production capacity of 1000 MW electricity in the vicinity of the complex.

With regard to the existence of the 20-inch gas pipeline as well as the necessary understanding with the gas company of Kerman Province, the major part of the gas requirement of this phase and the future phase of Gol Gohar development has been supplied. Meanwhile, necessary measures are underway for the next phase of the gas transmission pipeline. 

Water Supply

With regard to the scarcity of water in the southeast part of Iran, the desalination and water transfer plan from the Persian Gulf is under implementation. In the first phase, supply of the water required by the steel industries in Gol Gohar area has been designed with 45 million cubic meters per year and with a capital of 1400 billion tomans. Water will reach Gol Gohar area from the desalination plant in Bandar Abbas by the steel transmission pipeline with an approximate length of 285 km and diameter of 1600 mm and debite wing of 4 cubic meters per second through 7 pumping stations. In the second and third phases, with a capital of 450 billion tomans and 440 billion tomans, water from a reservoir which has been established in the Gol Gohar area will first be conducted towards Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine and then to Chadormalou Iron Ore Mine and Yazd Province. 

Construction of Tailing Dams and Water Recovery

In order to collect the wet tailings, the processing plants with an aim of recovery and extraction of noticeable amount of water, construction of tailing dams has been put on the agenda and is under implementation.  

Road and Rail Transportation Terminals

Increasing the volume of the products of Gol Gohar area by more than three times through gaining access to Gol Gohar Vision Plan 1398 (2019-2020) and in order to ensure transportation of products to internal and external destinations on the one hand, and given that a significant part of the finished price of mineral products is transportation costs on the other, transportation of the mineral substances can be considered as a relative advantage.

Industrial Projects

Four mineral and industrial companies of Gol Gohar, Gohar Zamin, Gol Gohar Iron and Steel Development and Sirjan Jahan Foolad are directly shouldering the responsibility of progress of the development plans and the companies of Gohar Energy, the Persian Gulf Water Supply and Transfer, and Gohar Tarabar and Gol Gohar Area Development and Management are responsible for completing development infrastructures.

1394 (2015-2016):

•  Gol Gohar concentrate lines 5 and 6

•  Gol Gohar pelletizing No. 2

•  Phase 1 of direct steel reduction plant

•  Phase 1 of Gohar Zamin stone breaking and concentrate

•  No. 1 Direct reduction of Sirjan Jahan Foolad Company

1395 (2016-2017):

•  Gol Gohar concentrates line 7

•  Phase 2 of direct reduction plan of iron and steel development

•  Gohar Zamin pelletizing

•  Gohar Zamin concentrate phase 2

1396 (2017-2018):

•  Steel-making and casting billet No. 1 of Sirjan Steel Comapany

•  Direct reduction No. 2

1397 (2018-2019):

•  Direct reduction No. 2 of Gol Gohar steel development

•  Sirjan Jahan Foolad steel mill

•  No. 2 crushing unit of Gol Gohar

•  No. 2 direct reduction plant of Sirjan Jahan Foolad Company

1398 (2019-202):

•  Steel-making and casting of billet No 2 of Sirjan Steel Company

1399 (2020-2021) and onward:

•  Steel-making plants and iron and steel development rolling 36 months after inception

•  Concentrate and pellet making of Phase 2 of Gohar Zamin under planning

•  Sirjan rolled fittings under study

Gol Gohar Area Players

Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial: 14 million tons of concentrates, 10 million tons of pellets

Gohar Zamin Iron Ore: 6 million tons of concentrates, 5 million tons of pellets

Gol Gohar Iron and Steel Development: 3.4 million tons of sponge, 3 million tons of steel, 3 million tons of rolled sheets

Sirjan Jahan Foolad: 2 million tons of sponge, 2 million tons of steel, 2 million tons of rolls

•  Annual transmission capacity of 45 million cubic meters to Gol Gohar

•  Annual transmission capacity of 30 million cubic meters to Sarcheshmeh

•  Annual transmission capacity of 20 million cubic meters to Chadormalou

•  45 million cubic meters for drinking and industry consumption in Bandar Abbas

•  15 million cubic meters for transfer route

Supply of 1497 MW electricity through:

•  Semnan combined cycle power plant

•  Phase 1 of Sirjan combined cycle power plant

•  Phase 2 of Sirjan combined cycle power plant

 – There is the possibility of realization of 5 million tons through increasing the following capacity of three other pellet making lines.

Achievements of the Government of Hope and Prudence in Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Area

Projects Commissioned 

• Pellet making plant No. 2 with a capacity of 5 million tons per year, Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company

• Concentrate production lines 5 and 6 with a capacity of 4 million tons per year, Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company

• Completion of cultural and sports complex, Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company

• Concentrate production plant (lines 1 and 2) with a capacity of 4 million tons per year, Gohar Zamin Iron Ore Company

• Sponge iron production plant (line 1) with a capacity of 1 million tons per year, Sirjan Jahan Foolad Company

• Bardsir rolling plant with a capacity of 500 thousand tons per year, Sirjan Jahan Foolad Company
  Total investment: 2874 billion tomans

Projects Ready for Operation

• Sponge iron production plant (line 1 – Tarh-e Gohar) with a capacity of 1.7 million tons per year, Gol Gohar Iron and Steel Development Company

• Gas units with a capacity of 332 MW from phase 1 of the power plant and post 600 to subsidiary 330, Sirjan Gohar Energy Company
  Total investment: 1893 billion tomans

Projects under Implementation

• Concentrate production plant (line 6) with a capacity of 2 million tons per year – Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company

• The stone crushing and transfer No. 2 with an annual capacity of 15 million tons – Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company

• The 7-km pellet transfer line to the reduction plant – Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company

• Tailings recovery project of water processing and return plants – Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company

• Implementation of 8 projects for reforming the lines in order to upgrade the quality and quantity of products – Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company

• The steam unit from phase 1 of the power plant – Sirjan Gohar Energy Company

• Transfer of water from the Persian Gulf to industries in south of the country – Persian Gulf Water Supply and Transfer Company

• Construction of Bandar Abbas desalination complex (phase 0 and 1) – Persian Gulf Water Supply and Transfer Company

• Sponge iron production plant (line 2 – Kosar project) with a production capacity of 2 million tons per year – Gol Gohar Iron and Steel Development Company

• Cold briquette making plant with an annual capacity of 520 thousand tons – Gol Gohar Iron and Steel Company

• Steel melting and making plant with a capacity of 1 million tons per year – Sirjan Jahan Foolad Company

• Cold briquette making plant – Sirjan Jahan Foolad Company

• Concentrate production plant (line 3) with a production capacity of 2 million tons per year – Gohar Zamin Iron Ore Company

• Pellet making plant with a capacity of 5 million tons per year – Gohar Zamin Iron Ore Company

• The stone crushing and breaking unit with an annual capacity of 15 million tons – Gohar Zamin Iron Ore Company
  Total investment: 6277 billion tomans

Contract-Based Projects

• Construction of steel-making and rolling plant with a capacity of 3 million tons per year – Gol Gohar Iron and Steel Development Company

• Construction of chrome ore briquette making plant with an annual capacity of 800 thousand tons – Gol Gohar Iron and Steel Development Company

• Sponge iron production plant (line 2) with a production capacity of 1 million tons per year – Sirjan Jahan Foolad Company

• Construction of phase 1 of oxygen plant – Sirjan Jahan Foolad Company

• Construction of phase 1 of oxygen plant – Gol Gohar Investment Development Company

• Construction of lime and dolomite production plant with a capacity of 240 thousand tons per year – Gol Gohar Investment Development Company

• Construction of 75% ferrosilicon plant – Gol Gohar Investment Development Company

• Phase 2 of 1000 MW power plant with a capacity of 500 MW – Sirjan Gohar Energy Company

• Development of Martyr Bakeri power plant, Semnan – Sirjan Gohar Energy Company

• Implementation of gas transmission line 2 – Sirjan Gohar Energy Company
  Total investment: 5669 billion tomans

Other Measures

•  Exploration of new zones in Gol Gohar area in the province (signing the framework of agreement with the stakeholders of Gol Gohar)

•  Establishment of a specialized rail transportation company for mineral substances

Social Investments

• Planning urban sewage treatment project and refinery of Sirjan

• Signing memorandum of understanding for construction of Sirjan-Kerman railroad

• Receiving permit for construction of 64-bed specialized hospital in phase 1 and 128 beds in phase 2, purchase of land and selection of consultant and contractor

• Rehabilitation and reconstruction of Sirjan movie theater

• Rehabilitation of Hazrat Abalfazl (A.S.) care center for mentally disabled and Mehr Centers 1 and 2 in Sirjan

• Assigning supply of the clothing in Gol Gohar area to the Relief Committee of Sirjan with an aim of providing employment opportunities for women bread winners

• Completion of cultural and sport complex of Gol Gohar Mining and Industrial Company
  Over 1000 billion tomans