Iran will hold an auction next week to sell two investment packages in the field of geological exploration in South Khorasan province. These packages include a total of ten exploration licenses, according to an official representative of the state company Iran Minerals Production and Supply Company (IMPASCO).
Shima Moafi, acting deputy head of the Development and Planning Department at IMPASCO, noted that this initiative is aimed at stimulating private sector participation and opening up new opportunities for investment in the mining sector.
The first stage of the auction will offer two investment packages in South Khorasan through competitive selection, with each package covering five exploration licenses, according to IRIB information. Moafi added that subsequent packages, which will concern the provinces of Isfahan, Koh, and Ilam, are expected after the completion of the initial stage.
Previously, in June, the head of the executive council of the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) emphasized the need to transform Iran's policy in mineral exploration. He stated that developing national exploration standards, expanding private sector participation, attracting foreign investors, and training qualified personnel would be the main pillars of Iran's mineral exploration development program.
Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday to review the activities and plans of the organization's major subsidiaries and affiliates, Mohammad Masoud Samiei-Nejad named the expansion of mineral exploration as one of the highest priorities in the mining sector this year.
He specified that IMIDRO's policy is focused on implementing development programs in the exploration sector, with the goal of completing drilling on the territory of its subsidiaries for one million meters. Samiei-Nejad also noted the need for a unified approach to exploration procedures, insisting on developing standardized and integrated policies for mineral exploration and issuance of discovery certificates based on mineral type, scale of operations, and drilling conditions.
After the approval of these standards, they will be communicated to companies and provincial authorities across the country to ensure that all stakeholders operate within a single regulatory framework. The head of IMIDRO also highlighted the importance of creating a specialized exploration working group. Given the significant role of exploration development in Iran's Seventh National Development Plan, he stated that the necessary executive guidelines must be prepared, and problems and obstacles in different provinces should be studied and resolved through specialized reviews involving the private sector.
Samiei-Nejad pointed out that investment models in the exploration sector require revision, explaining that the existing investment structures in IMIDRO's subsidiaries are relatively closed and need reform to facilitate the entry of new investors, especially from the private sector. Accordingly, all subsidiaries are required to submit operational plans within the next six months, outlining how they intend to increase private sector participation in mining activities, particularly in exploration projects.
He also stressed the importance of utilizing foreign investment in large mining projects, stating that planning the attraction of foreign investors is necessary, especially for large-scale mines. Simultaneously, he called for a thorough study of the experience of Eurasian countries in promoting mineral exploration, particularly in the copper and gold sectors, over the last decade.
Concluding his speech, the head of IMIDRO announced the launch of a training program for specialized personnel for drilling operations. He emphasized that the expansion of mineral exploration is impossible without qualified staff. Therefore, IMIDRO will begin training drilling technicians through specialized courses and the participation of leading domestic and international experts, with the initial goal of preparing 100 specialized drilling technicians.