Sudan’s River Nile State contributes 70% of the country’s gold production

December 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The government of Sudan’s River Nile State Wednesday said they contributed 70% of the country’s total gold production in 2015 noting the state created 600,000 employment opportunity in the traditional mining sector.

The finance minister of the River Nile State Awad al-Sid Mohamed Ali, who spoke before the state’s legislative council following the approval of the 2016 budget, said the presence of 600,000 mining workers in the state has contributed to mobilizing the domestic economy.

According to the ministry of mining, traditional mining represents 90% of gold production in Sudan.

In remarks before the parliament earlier this month, Sudan’s minister of minerals Mohamed Sadiq al-Karuri affirmed that his country’s gold production will reach 100 tonnes next year which will move Sudan to the 2nd rank in Africa and 9th worldwide in terms of production.

He said that the total gold production in 2014 was 73.4 tonnes, of which mining companies produced 9.7 tonnes while traditional mining contributed 63.7 tonnes.

Al-Karuri added that his ministry concluded agreements with several countries including Russia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Turkey for the development of the mineral sector.

The East African country is looking for gold to make up for the budget deficit it incurred as a result of losing three quarters of its oil production due to the secession of South Sudan in July 2011.

In recent years a growing number of foreign gold companies have expressed interest in obtaining licences to operate in Sudan.

(ST)