GOLD CONCENTRATE OUTPUT UP 1.5% IN ARMENIA IN 2009
Interfax
Dec 22 2009
Russia
Total volume of gold concentrate produced in Armenia has risen 1.5%
to 133 tonnes this year from 131 tonnes in 2008, Energy and Natural
Resources Minster Armen Movsisyan said at a Tuesday press conference.
Almost all companies in Armenia’s mineral resources sector were idle
at the start of this year because of the world economic crisis, but
starting in May they were operating so as to even exceed the previous
year’s indicators on the main kinds of products, Movsisyan said.
Copper concentrate output topped 90,000 tonnes in 2009 versus 72,000
tonnes in 2008, molybdenum concentrate output came to 8,862 tonnes
versus 8,300 tonnes the year before.
But zinc concentrate dropped to 6,200 tonnes from 7,400 tonnes.
"The overall volume of production in the mineral resources sector in
2009 is nearly even with the previous year’s indicators. That is a
very good result in crisis conditions," Movsisyan said.
Armenia needs to focus on more thoroughly refining concentrates
and metals to increase added value. "We need to export not copper
concentrate, but pure copper or products from pure copper," he sid.