The Ministry of Mines (MoM) said it has earned over 281 million US dollars in revenue from the export of various minerals in the last nine months of this budget year.
MoM Public Relations and Communications Director, Bacha Faji, told WIC that the income was earned from the export of over 7,352.2 kg of processed and 2,803.8 kg of raw gold, 152.9 kg of gemstone, 48,147 kg of opal, 353 tons of marble, 3.88 kg of platinum and 133 tons of tantalum.
The minerals exported to various countries were produced by companies and artisanal miners, he said.
According to Bacha, gold, marble and tantalum exported through companies have generated 92.02 million US dollars, while gold, opal, tantalum and platinum exported by artisanal miners made 188.96 million US dollars.
The revenue obtained in the last nine months decreased by 15 per cent compared to the same period last budget year as a result of price fall of gold at the global market, Bacha said.
The mining sector has created jobs for 82,827 compatriots, he said.
[WaltaInformationCenter]