Iran approves a six point emergency package for mining explosives as ANFO climbs from 33,000 to 192,000 tomans a kilo in a year

The mining committee of Iran's Production Facilitation and Obstacle Removal Headquarters has drawn up a six point package to manage the crisis in the supply of mining explosives. Mehr News Agency reported on Saturday, 1 August 2026 (10 Mordad 1405), citing the Iran Chamber of Commerce, that the committee's first specialist session was held at the House of Mines of Iran with representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, the Ministry of Defence, the House of Mines, IMIDRO, industry associations and delegates from large and small mines.

According to a report by the House of Mines of Iran presented at the session, the price of the explosive ANFO has risen over the past year from about 33,000 tomans to close to 192,000 tomans per kilogram. Technical assessments presented at the same meeting indicate that importing ammonium nitrate works out, in some scenarios, between 40 and more than 60 percent cheaper than the domestic price even after freight, insurance, customs and processing costs. Committee members stressed that the shortage of supply is more worrying than the price increase itself, and warned that if the situation persists it could halt mining operations, particularly at small and medium sized mines, cut employment, reduce feedstock for mineral industries and lower exports.

The main provisions of the approved package are the immediate supply of explosives through imports using the capacity of large mines under Ministry of Defence supervision; the removal of obstacles to order registration, foreign currency allocation and customs clearance within a maximum of 15 days; the creation of strategic reserves; the formation of a joint working group to reform the pricing structure with the industry and defence ministries, the Consumer and Producer Protection Organization and the House of Mines; the reorganisation of existing explosives depots in coordination with provincial security councils; and a review of new production capacity for raw materials. The package has been referred to the Production Facilitation Headquarters for final approval.