Nicaraguan mining companies forecast more growth for 2014 in line with the investments made by the sector.
According to statistics from the Center for Exports (CETREX) up to November this year sales of raw gold rose by 10.4% going from 12,001 kg in 2012 to 13,251 in 2013. An increase in value of 2.9 % with revenues of $395.1 million was recorded, while in the same period of 2012 it was $389.9 million .
Falling gold prices in the international market are worrying the mining sector, but are not a reason to stop investing in the country.
In an interview in Laprensa.com.ni by Lucia Navas with Pablo Venturo, B2Gold's country manager, the official explains how the company's operations are in Nicaragua and their expectations for the future.
According to Venturo, recently there has been a significant drop in international prices, however, they are waiting to see what the trend will be over the next few months. "When we started operations in the country in April 2009 the price of gold was $850, since then there was an upward trend reaching its peak in 2011. In 2009 we started with major investments such as the acquisition of properties and the reconstruction of Mina La Libertad, which helped double production from forty thousand ounces a year to its current capacity of 130 thousand ounces. That was an investment of $74 million between 2009 and 2010. That investment has allowed us to maximize our revenue this year and leaves us ready and in a robust position to face a complex future. "
While the outlook is expected to improve at the international level, the mining industry in Nicaragua has announced that it is prepared to withstand the collapse of gold prices.
According to Pablo Venturo, B2Gold mining manager, the investments of about $400 million which have been implemented over the past four years has allowed them to be ready today for the collapse of gold prices in the international market.
The Canadian company B2Gold, which operates the Limon and La Libertad mining projects in Nicaragua, has announced higher revenues and production.
In the third quarter of 2011, the company’s gold mines produced a total of 34,303 ounces of gold and generated revenues of $50.5 million. This represents a 13% increase in production and a 26% increase in revenue, compared with the same period in 2010.
Three companies from the U.S. and Canada have acquired concessions rights for exploratory mining, with investments of about $5 million.
The new concessions add to those already existing in the country, in which a total of $12.7 million have been invested between January and May 2011, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM).
Karla Guerrero, director of the Mining Chamber of Nicaragua told reporters that of the total investment, about $10 million has been earmarked for exploration and that at the current rate, investment could top 2010 levels of $20.7 million.
The Canadian company, which owns the La Libertad and Limon mines, reported sales of $54.5 million in the second quarter, up 2% from the previous quarter.
The increase occurred despite the Limon mine having to suspend underground operations due to excessive rains and floods, which killed a worker.
B2Gold produced 36,760 ounces of gold, 3,000 more than their own estimates for the quarter which traded at an average price of $1,513 per ounce, higher than in the previous quarter.