TEHRAN (FNA)- Cement production capacity has increased to 53 mln tons annually with the inauguration of the third production line of Sepahan Cement Factory in Isfahan, said Industries and Mines Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian.
While inaugurating the factory, he said that only three projects, out of the 17 which were incomplete in the last Iranian year (ended March 19), remained to be put on stream, ISNA reported.
He added that Sarouj Cement in Isfahan, Delijan Cement in Markazi province and Neka Cement in Mazandaran will be commissioned by June 20 further raising annual cement production capacity to 55 mln tons.
The minister stated that the figure is expected to reach 64 mln tons and 110 mln tons by March 2009 and 2013 respectively.
He said that the per capita cement consumption is projected to reach 920 kg by next March, adding the figure was 450 kg when the incumbent government took office in 2005.
Criticizing the lack of variety in cement production, he said that presently 9 types of cement are produced in the country, while the figure is 45 worldwide.
He called for diversifying cement production, the report added.