Zarand Iranian Steel Company (ZISCO) has signed a contract with the Czech Republic’s OSTROJ a.s. to import machinery and engineering services in the field of underground coal mining, according to Iran Daily. A European bank was also present at the signing ceremony of the agreement.

The joint stock company OSTROJ is a leading manufacturer of mining machinery with a range covering equipment includes powered roof supports, chain conveyors, belt conveyors, and coal plows, steep/vertical seam shearers, and associated equipment such as individual hydraulic supports, hydraulic props and cylinders, and other components for hydraulic systems.

As per the contract, 720,000 t of coal per year is expected to be mined from Khomroud mine in the southeastern Iranian province of Kerman. ZISCO is one of the subsidiary companies of the Middle East Mines Industries Development Holding Company (MIDHCO) established to produce 4 Mt of iron ore concentrate, 2.5 Mt of iron ore pellets, 1.2 Mt of metallurgical coke and 1.7 Mt of steel per annum.