Khartoum signed ten exploration deals for gold and other minerals on Sunday in a bid to switch from an oil-dependent economy ahead of South Sudan’s referendum.
Mining Minister Abdel Bagi al-Jaylani told Reuters the exploration deals were with Sudanese companies and four international companies from Saudi Arabia, India, Great Britain and China to search for copper, lead, iron, zinc and gold.Mr. al-Jaylani said that from the beginning of the year up until the end of October, Sudan mined 23 tones of gold. He added he expected to mine some 60-65 tones next year.
The Minster said this year Sudan had signed 47 new mining agreements and expected to sign 50 more in 2011 for mining in the three Darfur states, Kassala and Gedaref in the east and the north-south border region of South Kordofan.
Mr. al-Jaylani added that next year he expected to have good revenues from chromium, building materials — marble and aggregate — gold, copper and zinc.