KERMAN Managing Director of National Iranian Copper Company (NICC) Abdolreza Hashemzaei announced here Monday that 54,000 tons of cathode copper were produced at Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex in Kerman Province during the last Iranian year which ended in March.

Hashemzaei told a group of engineers, directors, employees and workers that there was a 20-percent increase in production of cathode copper last year compared to the figures for the preceding year.

He said that cathode copper output is expected to reach 165,000 to 170,000 tons this year.

The official added that volume of investment in expansion of the national copper industry rose to Rls.4,000 billion this year from Rls.540 billion last year.