Amid Opposition concerns about declining gold production, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, says government is confident that there will be an increase in production beginning this year, due to a number of measures taken which include a $400 million Budget 2024 allocation to start a mineral inventory programme which would aid in the efficient allocation of gold-bearing areas.
“Over $400 million that is in budget 2024 is to start the mineral inventory programme in mining districts… In the same way we can do it with the forest inventory. Today we are starting the mineral inventory so that we can allocate blocks in a more informed way. Thereby, Mr Speaker, protecting our forests and keeping our deforestation low,” Bharrat yesterday told the National Assembly, while making his presentation during the ongoing Budget debate.
