Yemen to export first zinc, lead shipment in 2010

SANA'A, Sep. 04(Saba) - Yemen is expected to export the first shipment of zinc, lead and silver in 2010, the Geological survey
and Minerals Authority (GSMA) reported on Saturday.

The GSMA said that a mining project at Nahm area of Sana'a province would provide
several direct and indirect jobs to Yemenis, noting this project is one of the main
strategic
projects in the field of minerals in the country.
The percentage of the project implementation is 50 percent and it is expected the
construction works of the project would be finished by the end of 2009.
In a press release, the GSMA said that the Yemeni government's economic strategy
had allowed investment companies to work in this field, offering a wide range of
facilities
to investors. The oil and minerals resources increased up to 60 percent over last
two years.
Till 2008, the number of companies working in the field of mining in Yemen reached
24 companies while mining institutions reached 2065 and Yemeni labors working in
this
field reached 11,800.
Furthermore, the GSMA revealed that the government had decided to review the
necessary information of geological and mineral studies made in 1980s by
international geological
missions, including Germany and Czech missions, in the two Yemeni provinces of
Shabwa and Abyan.
The 200 km square survey had divided the two provinces to 20 blocks in order to
promote the mining companies to invest them.
The government is ready to make a study of zinc and lead mineralization at Sadarah
and Ya'buth areas of Shabwah province as well as an exploratory study for minerals
and
rocks in Maharah province, east of Yemen.
The GSMA pointed to the explorations of copper and nickel in the two northern
Yemeni provinces of Hajjah and Amran are continuous.
NN/YA