Sudan’s 2012 gold exports top $2.2 billion: Bashir

April 1, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir announced on Monday that the country’s gold exports in 2012 reached $2.2 billion stressing that his government will continue working on bolstering precious metal production.

“With regard to metals and what was discovered from Sudan’s gold, 178 blocks were explored and planned for minerals production including 138 for gold production and 91 companies began working on various metals with 13 companies reaching gold production stage,” Bashir told parliament today at the opening session.

“The reserves of gold identified are expected to be 940 tonnes. Russian and Chinese companies were granted an area of 769 kilometers in order to re-examine its stockpile of mineral reserves in addition to signing agreements with companies from South Africa and Britain,” he added.

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.

The government eyes gold output of around 50 tonnes in 2013, worth around $2.5 billion, which would potentially make it Africa’s third largest gold miner behind South Africa and Ghana, and push it into the top 15 producers globally.

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

(ST)