NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER 1334
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18 SEPTEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 17)
Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:
(1) What are the reasons for the reduction of gold production figures to
the lowest production output in 86 years;
(2) whether she has taken any steps to (a) address the causes and (b)
increase gold production; if not, why not in each case; if so, what
steps in each case? NW1683E
REPLY
(1) South Africaâs gold production has been in decline for more than
three decades, from a peak of 1 000t in 1970, as gold extraction
depths increased over the years, resulting in complex and costly
access to the remaining gold resources.
2) (a) No. Gold reserves have a finite lifespan and the levels of
productions are determined by producing companies.
(b) No. same as above.
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