Gold Mines
Sudan has one of the largest gold reserves in Africa and is considered to be one of the top 10 producers worldwide. It also produces iron ore, phosphates, chromite, and other minerals. However, the industry is lagging behind other countries, including Kenya and Nigeria, in terms of growth.
Gold Mining Companies in Sudan
Awadya Ahmed and her family live in Banat village, in River Nile state north of Khartoum. It’s not unusual for artisanal miners to come and search for gold here, where the mineral is found in several deposits. But their work leaves toxic waste behind that’s a danger to local people and their environment.
The contaminated soils have a bad impact on water sources, crops and even residential areas, she said. It’s a problem that’s getting worse in her village and others across the region, she says.
How Many Gold Mines Are in Sudan?
Artisanal mining is widespread and lucrative in many regions, but it’s dangerous and unhealthy for the people who do it, Baldo says. It’s estimated that nearly two million people in the country work as artisanal miners, responsible for about 80 percent of Sudan’s gold production, according to experts.
Sudanese Companies engaged in Gold Mining
Some of the artisanal miners are very experienced and know where to look for the best veins of gold, Baldo says. This allows them to mine for larger amounts of gold, and it’s easier to make money if they can sell the gold at high prices.
Another way to increase profits is to run the ore through a more complex extraction process at a nearby industrial plant, Baldo says. He estimates that the resulting profit could be up to five times higher than if the ore were processed at home.
But he warns that if mining operations are allowed to continue, the country will have to deal with huge amounts of waste that’ll need to be handled. “It’s not going to be easy,” he says.
Firms involved in Gold Extraction in Sudan
The mining industry has been growing fast in Sudan since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, when it took its oil wealth with it. But it’s still a small part of the economy, contributing less than 4% to the GDP.
A key ally of President Vladimir Putin’s regime, Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin is a major player in Sudan’s mining sector. He owns a US-sanctioned company called Meroe Gold, which extracts gold and provides weapons to Sudan’s army and paramilitary forces.
He also has links to the Wagner Group, a mercenary firm that’s fought alongside Sudan’s feared Rapid Support Forces (RSF) military in Darfur, diplomatic sources say. The US Treasury says the group has been linked to alleged torture, killings and looting in Syria and Central African Republic.
During the civil war in Darfur, the RSF was accused of being behind tens of thousands of deaths. But after Bashir was overthrown in a 2019 coup, Hemeti, a former general and the leader of the RSF, switched allegiance to the opposition and has become the second most powerful general in the Sudanese military, behind Burhan.