TEHRAN — Construction of the country’s first unit to produce carbon disulfide (CS2) is expected to kick off in Meimeh of Isfahan Province within next months, Mohammad-Hossein Rafiee, consultant to the project said here on Tuesday.

The unit is expected to come on stream in mid 2007 with the capacity of 3,300 tons of carbon disulfide per annum, he told the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA).

In addition, a unit to produce alkyl xanthates with the capacity of 2,900 tons per year would become operational late 2007, he noted.

Rafiee explained that the plan to construct a factory for production of CS2 and alkyl xanthates was launched in 1981 under an agreement in principle with the Industries and Mines Ministry. However, he added, the plan came to a halt during Iran-Iraq war.

The private sector resumed the construction last year, and it is to be implemented by the use of domestic technology and raw materials, he stated.

He further explained that internal production of carbon disulfide will help save $4 million for the country per year. It is a key ‘parent’ chemical product necessary to produce nearly 700 chemical compounds for over 40 important industries.

Affiliates to the ministry currently import 2,500 tons of this product valued at $2.5 million per annum, he added.

Carbon disulfide is utilized for exploitation at metal mines, production of catalyzers in rubber industries, disinfection of farming lands, and production of cellophane required for packaging, he noted.