The Minister of Industries and Mines Es`haq Jahangiri announced here Saturday night that Iran`s cement production could reach 60Mt by 2009. His remarks were made at an inaugural ceremony for seven industrial projects in the quake-hit city of Bam. "Iran produces some 31Mt of cement annually," Jahangiri told IRNA. He said a cement factory in Fars province with an expected annual capacity of one million tons is set to become operational by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2005). In addition, a further 27 cement factories are currently under construction in various parts of the country, he said, adding that the factories, once they become operational, will greatly boost the country`s cement production and exports of this commodity.