Iran has announced it will build the Middle East’s largest zinc factory in Mahneshan, in the country’s Zanjan province.

Production capacity will be 100,000 tonnes per year (tpy), taking Iran’s production capability to 250,000 tpy and placing it in the world’s 15th or 17th spot from its current 23rd rank as a zinc producing nation.
The factory, which will be operational in three years, will create jobs for 500 people, Iran said.
Meanwhile, two steel and cement factories were inaugurated in Mahneshan recently.
The steel factory is expected to produce 500,000 tonnes of steel ingots per year and create jobs for 1,800 individuals (directly and indirectly).
The cement factory, which covers an area of 197 hectares, will annually produce 250,000 tonnes of cement for oil wells and 150,000 tonnes for the construction sector.