Minerals Minister calls on Canada to invest in Sudan

Sudan’s Minister of Minerals, Dr Ahmed El Karori, has called on Canadian companies to invest in the Sudanese mineral sector.

The Minister met with the Canadian Ambassador in Khartoum on Tuesday, in preparation for participation in a conference on the development of Africa’s mineral resources, to be held in Canada during the coming week, the Sudan News Agency (Suna) reported.

He explained that Sudan needs the Canadian companies to engage in the field of mineral industries.

Sudan still exports raw minerals including iron, which is found in all states in the country, he said. “Despite the ample availability of iron ore, there is only one factory, but it only melts scrap iron.”

El Karori will also request the Canadians provide alternatives for the mercury used in gold extraction in the traditional mining sector, which is considered as one of the Ministry’s priority operations, Suna stated.

The Canadian Ambassador, Salah bin Daoud told El Karouri that he would contact Canadian companies that have experience and advanced technology in this field, and are committed to social responsibility.

The ambassador further lauded the International Mineral Forum and Exhibition held in Khartoum last month.

Gold mining

In anticipation of the secession of South Sudan in 2011 and the loss of two-thirds of its oil revenues, Khartoum opted after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 to stimulate the gold production in the country.

Last September, El Karori announced that the country’s gold production amounted to 54 tons in the first eight months of the year. At a market price of $35,579 per ton, the production value would be close to $1.9 billion.

The Minister said that most of the gold – 44 tons – was produced by traditional miners. Earlier, he had predicted that 2015 would be a peak year for the Sudanese gold production.