On May 23, Iranian steelmaker Khouzestan Oxin Steel Co.'s new wide plate mill, the largest steel sheet plant in the Middle East, was inaugurated by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran's southwestern city of Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan province.
The new mill is located on an area of 160 hectares, with a total of about $370 million invested in its construction.
Khouzestan Oxin Steel Wide Plate Mill has a designed annual output capacity of 1.05 million mt of heavy plates of 1,100-4,500 mm in width, 5-150 mm in thickness, and 2.5-24 m in length.
At the opening ceremony, President Ahmadinejad said, "Iran will become a major steel exporter in the world."
The Iranian president added, "The factory, which enjoys advanced and high-level technology, will be made operational by Iranian experts within a short period of time."