http://www.avn.info.ve/node/74636

Government begins exploration program to discover new gold mines
Caracas, 29 Aug. AVN .- The National Executive will launch an exploration program to discover new mines and gold reserves, which will promote the rational exploitation of the metal.

The announcement was made Monday the Minister of People's Power for Basic Industries and Mining (Mibam), Joseph Khan, who noted that this plan, according to the Law on Nationalization of gold, will be through the formation of joint ventures , which will have proven reserves that will then be certified by international institutions.

"We have a lot of inferred reserves, which reaches to 4636 tons of gold. The goal is to make a great plan for certification and exploration of mines have been known for many years and discovering new deposits, "he said.

With the certification, which will guarantee the commercial value of these mines may be forming new partnerships for exploitation, reports a press release Mibam.

Minister Khan stressed that this exploitation must be rational manner while preserving the environment.

Besides the primary activities (exploration and exploitation), will develop related, consisting of storage, possession, benefit, transportation, circulation and internal and external marketing of gold.

"This stage of the chain is also effected through the formation of joint ventures with private and small mines, where the state will have absolute control over 55% of the shares," he stated Khan.

New projects for exploration and extraction of gold

By creating a joint venture between Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and National Mining EBS in joint venture with private investors, will boost the development of Las Cristinas project (3,862 hectares), located in Las Claritas, Bolivar State Sifontes municipality .

This will scan mine and extraction of gold material, as well as the construction and operations of a processing plant with capacity of 20,000 tons per day.

It is anticipated that the construction phase of this project will generate 2,000 direct jobs and 6,000 indirect, while believed the operation stage 400 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs.

Another project to be carried out is Brisas del Cuyuni - Unicorn (500 hectares) located in the municipality Sifontes, will also be developed through a partnership between PDVSA, EBS National Mining and private investors.

This work will include implementation of the exploration and extraction of gold material, and building a processing plant for gold and copper, which will have a processing capacity of 70,000 tons per day.

In the construction phase of this project is estimated to generate 2197 direct jobs and 6,000 indirect, while operations will generate 934 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs.