Ministry of Minerals, South Kordofan State sign cooperative agreement on gold mining

Kadugli, July 28 (SUNA) - The Ministry of Minerals signed Saturday a cooperative agreement with the State of South Kordofan and a memo of understanding between the ministry and the various authorities in the state on all issues related to the mining in the state.
The Minister of Minerals Kamal Abdal-Latif has signed on behalf of the ministry whereas the Wali (governor) of South Kordofan State Ahmed Mohamed Haroun has signed for his state.
The minister underlined, during a deliberative meeting held in Kadugli Saturday on the future of mining in South Kordofan, that his ministry considered the interests of the citizens the top priority. "It's a red line for us that we will not tolerate it", he stated.
He indicated that no company would be granted a privilege in any block without the consent of the state government within a package of policies that involve the state in mining issues within its territory.
Abdul-Latif said that, according to the agreement, a fund would be established between the mining companies and the state for provision of social services and support of the projects of education, health, water and other services in the mining areas, indicating that the blocks that given to the companies would not be in any way at the debit of agriculture, grazing and other activities, which are in touch of the living of people.
The minister stressed that the companies were obliged, under the agreements signed, to address environmental impacts resulting from mining along with forcing them to grant 90% of the required employment opportunities to manpower in the state.
The Wali (governor) of South Kordofan State Ahmed Mohamed Haroun, meanwhile, asserted that mining is considered one of the most important resource the three-year program relied upon in addressing Sudan economy, adding that his government put the development of mining sector as the top issue.
Haroun urged the need for working together to educate the citizens and those who are working in mining sector to accept investment in this vital area, stressing that in any case it would not be against them.
He explained that the coming period would witness opening of an office in the state for the Geological Research Authority and sub-offices at the localities besides training and qualification of graduates of the faculties of geology in the center in preparation for absorption them in these sub-offices.
BH/BH