South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Benjamin Takpiny
The Council of Ministers has endorsed a proposal to establish gold refineries and mineral trading centers in the country.
Jacob Maiju Korok, the Deputy Minister of Information, Communication, Technology and Postal Services, disclosed last week that the purpose of establishing these trading centers is to ensure that artisanal and small-scale miners benefit from minerals.
He also noted that the move will curb smuggling of gold, and other minerals across the borders.
The endorsement came following the presentation of a memo from the High-Level Steering Committee by Martin Gama Abucha, Minister of Mining before the Council of Ministers in Juba.
Korok said that the Council of Ministers directed the Ministry of Finance and Planning, to pay the previously approved cash to a tune of 72 million U.S dollars to facilitate the establishment of mineral trading centers across the country.
He disclosed that the Minister of Mining also requested the Council of Ministers to approve the formation of the steering committee and the technical teams to oversee the process of establishing gold refineries and mineral trading centers.