The Mineral Industry of Suriname in 1998
THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF SURINAME By Alfredo C. Gurmendi In 1998, Suriname had a population of about 0.5 million in a import duties on equipment used for mining, milling, and 163,000-square-kilometer area. Suriname’s economy was future expansions. Expenditures on prospecting, exploration, based largely on bauxite, the main source of alumina and and other preproduction costs can be written off during the first aluminum, which accounted for almost 70% of the country’s 5 years of operations (Radhakishun, 1997, p. 2-4; Alibux and exports of $568 million and about 15% of its estimated gross Mackenzie, 1998a, p. 3). domestic product of $2.65 billion1 in 1998 (Alibux and Under Suriname’s current mining law, four types of mining Mackenzie, 1998a, p. 3; Hall, 1999, p. 1A). The Netherlands, titles, which cover diamond, gold, and other minerals, can be Norway, and the United States were the principal markets for issued. These mining titles were reconnaissance rights for up Suriname’s exports. Trade between the United States and to 200,000 hectares (ha) for a maximum of 3 years; exploration Suriname amounted to $289 million ($88 million of exports rights for up to 40,000 ha for a maximum of 7 years; and $201 million of imports to and from the United States, exploitation rights for up to 10,000 ha for 25 years; and small respectively) (Hall, 1999, p. 1A). The principal mineral export mining rights for alluvial or shallow mining (Ministry of of Suriname remained aluminum, which was produced at a rate Natural Resources, 1997, p.
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