Caracas, 28 Jan. AVN. - Minister for Mining and Petroleum, Rafael Ramirez, said Monday the launch of an action plan to promote the development of gold and increase the activity levels of gold production in the country.

During a press conference at the headquarters of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) in the countryside, in Caracas, said the president, Hugo Chavez, Cuba passed since the creation of the Venezuelan Corporation of Mines (CVM).

He explained that this institution will operate as a subsidiary of PDVSA Industrial and will be responsible for the control of mineral extraction activities, to prevent smuggling outward.

Additionally, the Executive decided to delimit the areas with the best conditions for the extraction of gold, he said, which will make in 2012 is to reach a production of four tons in 2012 and 15,000 tons in 2019.

"We've evaluated, there are areas that we have reserved for small-scale mining, there are areas for businesses with international partners and others that are awarded to Venezuelan Mining Corporation.'re Going to be able to go to a rational exploitation of resources for the benefit for the people "he said.

Thus, the CVM Executive granted the rights and development of primary activities related to farm gold in blocks Guasipati-El Callao, South Sifontes and El Callao, Bolivar State.

These blocks represent an area of ​​35,778 hectares and estimated reserves of 81.4 million ounces of gold.

Meanwhile, small-scale mining will an extension of 8651 hectares and will develop its activities in the areas the test, tin, New Heart, apañao and Bizkaitarra.

In turn, 35,331 hectares will be allocated to the development of potential new business ventures of domestic and foreign capital.

Ramirez said the country has 133 million ounces of gold in reserves, of which 81.4 million will be allocated to the CVM ounces, while the remaining ounces are reserved for other projects.

He stressed that the CVM is born with assets in the order of 40,000 million dollars, the number arising from existing reserves and mineral trading in international markets.

However, Executive reported that China will launch with a certification process that will identify other gold deposits in Venezuelan soil minerals and metals such as coltan, copper, diamonds and silver.