Gold production increase for 2013

Abdul-Latif: \'mineral sector must save economy\' Khartoum - Abedalgoum Ashmeag The Sudanese Minister of Minerals, Kamal Abdul-Latif visited North Darfur State within his tour to follow up the metallurgical progress - especially gold. The minister has pledged to increase gold production and called on companies to take advantage of the opportunity and invest in the mining sector to achieve mutual benefits. On the other side, he revealed that his ministry imposed new procedures and measures to regulate the traditional mining operations in the states, including the state of North Darfur. He added that the gold revenues in the current year of 2013 amounted to $2.5 billion, expressing his hope that the minerals sector will help in saving the country\'s economy and contribute in raising the income of thousands of citizens. During the Council of Ministers of the Government of North Darfur meeting, he demanded to develop a plan to ensure that gold production was added to the Central Bank of Sudan and called on the civil administration to impose new measures to curb smuggling.