Sudan Declares War on Illegal Mining
Sudan is moving to reorganize its mining sector, with gold at the forefront, as the Ministry of Minerals announced its intention to end informal and artisanal mining over the next three years. This effort aims to mitigate the environmental and health impacts of such activities and maximize economic returns for the state.
The move comes as Sudan increasingly relies on gold to compensate for a significant portion of the oil revenues lost following the secession of South Sudan, while smuggling operations continue to deprive the public treasury of a large share of production. The government states that gold production reached 199 tons last year, with approximately 6 million Sudanese employed in the mining sector. These efforts are part of broader initiatives to learn from the experiences of gold-producing countries and to develop more than 25 strategic minerals abundant in the country.
Minister of Minerals Nour Al-Daim Taha, speaking at a workshop on corporate social responsibility attended by leaders and notables from South Kordofan state in Khartoum, noted that mining in Sudan emerged informally because it predated state regulation. He pointed out that the country possesses more than 25 strategic minerals, for which his ministry has developed plans and strategies to manage them scientifically, enabling the state to benefit from them.
He clarified that several states, including River Nile, have requested the ministry to conduct geological surveys, a step he viewed as evidence of growing community awareness regarding the dangers of informal mining. The minister added that Sudan seeks to transfer successful experiences and expertise from countries such as Ghana and South Africa in the fields of gold and corporate social responsibility, thereby benefiting both citizens and the state. He emphasized that precious metals could elevate Sudan to the rank of wealthy nations.
For his part, Mohamed Taher Omar, Managing Director of the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company, stated that the number of people engaged in mining in Sudan has reached 6 million citizens, noting that South Kordofan state has become one of the gold-producing states. Omar explained that the number of companies operating in the mining sector in the state has exceeded 60, with 50 percent of them having entered the stage of actual production, while the remaining companies are expected to join the production phase in the near future.
The senior official pointed out that before the outbreak of the war in South Kordofan, there were only 10 mining companies operating in exploration in the state, all of which were struggling.
It is worth noting that Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim previously indicated that Sudan’s gold production reached 199 tons last year, but a large portion of this quantity was smuggled, a problem that has plagued Sudan for years.
