Mehdi Karbasian made the remarks while addressing a meeting of members of the board of directors of the Association of Steel Producers held at the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), IRNA reported.
Currently standing at 234 kg, the per capita steel production in the country should be brought closer to 400 kg by required planning, said the official. He stressed that the current steel production capacity should be increased.
Production of raw steel in the previous year reached 16.6 million tons which showed an increase of 7% as compared to the same figure for the preceding year.
Meanwhile, steel products last year amounted to 19.9 million tons showing an increase of 2% in comparison with the corresponding figure a year ago.
Based on the planning of the Industry, Mine and Trade Ministry it is expected that 18 million tons of raw steel and 19 million tons of steel products will be produced in the current year.