Top copper firm holds one-fifth of world’s projects under construction
Iran ranks first globally in ‘committed’ copper development capacity
Iran's National Iranian Copper Industries Company (NICICO) holds 10 of the world's 51 copper development projects currently under construction, the highest number of any company globally, a senior executive said, adding that all of Iran's projects are classified at the highest investment confidence level.
According to the latest assessment, the global copper industry has 51 development projects under construction in 2026 with a combined capacity of 7 million metric tons of contained copper, of which 10 projects belong to NICICO, Gholamreza Molataheri, the company's deputy for strategic planning and development, said at the company's recent extraordinary general meeting.
614,000 tons copper capacity by 2030
Molataheri said NICICO accounted for 9% of the world's copper development capacity.
"Iran, with 614,000 metric tons of copper mine development capacity by 2030, ranks third globally in copper development project capacity after Chile and Peru," he said.
"However, all of Iran's development projects are classified at the highest investment confidence level, 'Committed,' placing the country first in the world in terms of committed copper development project capacity."
"Between 2026 and 2030, the National Iranian Copper Industries Company plans to implement 10 committed projects, which will add 2.723 million metric tons of concentrate production capacity and 614,000 metric tons of contained copper production capacity to the country's output upon completion."
More than 5.6b euros in development contracts
Molataheri said NICICO currently had more than 5.6 billion euros in development contracts under implementation.
"About 189 million euros worth of these projects came on stream last year, while the remaining projects will be completed and gradually brought into production this year and in the coming years," he said.