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The Geopoliticalmonitor's Zak Rose provides an overview of the Sudanese gold industry and interviews Mohamed Ali of Sudan Mining.  Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. For full article text, please visit: http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/sudans-gold-rush-4805/ Sudan’s Gold Rush By: Zak Rose April 29th, 2013 The gold output of Sudan was 41 tonnes in 2012 (compared with 220 tonnes from the continent's largest exporter, South Africa), and export levels will likely experience modest growth over the immediate short term. However, owing to recent government promotion and foreign investment from major mineral companies, some official estimates have predicted a spike in Sudan's gold exports within the next five years. Government interest in the gold industry stems from a desire to balance against decreasing oil revenues. When South Sudan seceded in 2011, it took roughly 75% of Sudan's oil wealth with it. And while informal gold mining has long been a part of the Sudanese economy (between 500,000 and 750,000 artisanal gold prospectors are active in Sudan), it has only been since the separation of South Sudan that the government has begun to focus on a capital-intensive expansion of the gold sector. Sudan opened its first gold refinery in 2012 with the aim of increasing the quality and trade-capacity of domestically-mined gold. Should the refinery meet the international standard of three uninterrupted years of production, Sudan's gold will be designated as “conflict-free” and thus will become eligible to trade on certain international commodity exchanges, expanding the potential market opportunities for Sudanese gold. It appears as though the government's early efforts to bolster gold production and exports are proving effective. Gold is now Sudan's largest export commodity. At least two major production projects are currently in the planning stages, and several other exploration projects are on the horizon. In early 2013, the Sudanese government announced the discovery of reserves estimated at 260 tonnes near the Abu Hamad Township in River Nile state (Nahr Al-Neil). Furthermore, vast areas of the country have been designated for mineral exploration, including areas north of the capital Khartoum, and near the border with South Sudan. Rich deposits are anticipated in many of these regions. Nearly 100 companies have obtained licenses from the Sudanese government to begin prospecting. In light of these discoveries and those that are still expected, Mining Minister Kamal Abdel-Latif predicts that a total of 20 firms will be actively producing gold by the end of this year. The most productive gold mine in Sudan at present is the Hassaï mine. In operation since 1992, Hassaï consists of 18 open pits producing high-grade oxide ore. It is located approximately 50km from Khartoum. The mine has produced over 2.3 million ounces of gold to date, and it is operated by Sudan’s Ariab Mining Company in partnership with Canada’s La Mancha Resources. For full article text, please visit: http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/sudans-gold-rush-4805/  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 Geopoliticalmonitor.com, All rights reserved.  You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.  Our mailing address is:  Geopoliticalmonitor.com 5700-100 King Street West Toronto, On M5X1C7 Canada