Mali expects its gold production to rise 20 percent in 2011 to 60 tonnes and increase further to 62 tonnes in 2012, according to President Amadou Toumani Toure. The west African state, Africa's third largest gold miner behind South Africa and Ghana, produced 50 tonnes in 2010 - 46 from industrial mines and 4 from artisinal diggers.
"It is expected that industrial gold production will be 56 tonnes in 2011 and 58 tonnes in 2012, in additional to artisinal production of 4 tonnes per year," he said in a televised address on the weekend. He did not explain how production would increase, though Malian officials have said high world gold prices were encouraging increased exploration and production.
Mali, a largely desert country, relies on gold for 70 percent of its exports and 15 percent of its gross domestic product. Gold prices rose 30 percent in 2010 to record highs over $1,400 an ounce. Mali's gold production has been hit in recent years by slowing output from some of its biggest operations, many of which are nearly played out.
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