Iran inaugurated the Middle East’s largest ever gold-processing plant that would double the country's annual production of gold bullion in the near future.
The Zarshouran plant was opened in West Azarbaijan Province in Northwestern Iran.
Iran is expected to be producing an estimated three tons of pure gold, 1.25 tons of silver and 500 kilograms of mercury in the future after completion of the first phase of the plant.
The plant will bring the country’s annual production of pure gold to six million tons after undergoing development.
The new processing facility will also produce an estimated 2.5 tons of silver and 1.5 tons of mercury a year in the near future.
The plant is fed by a nearby gold mine, situated some 35 kilometers from the city of Takab and is estimated to hold over 100 tons of gold.