Gold Axmin Inc. of
Canada continues to explore for
gold in the country. A pre-feasibility study for the
Passendro Gold Project was completed by GBM Gold Ltd. of the
United Kingdom in early 2006. It was followed by a feasibility study conducted by Senet (pty) Ltd. of
South Africa, commissioned during the third quarter of 2006. The pre-feasibility study had envisioned an
open pit operation with a gravity carbon-in-leach processing plant that would process about 3 million metric tons per year (Mt/yr) of ore with production estimated to be about 6,200 kilograms per year (kg/yr) of gold (reported as 200,000 troy ounces). Other companies exploring for gold in the country included Prospero Minerals Corp. (formerly Corumel Minerals Corp., before 2006), and Tamija Gold & Diamond Exploration Inc. of the United States, and London-based
Pan African Resources plc. AXMIN Inc. was stripped of its license to mine gold in
Ndassima in 2019. It was instead awarded to
Midas Ressources, a company run by
Wagner Group.
Diamonds In 2006, Energem Resources Inc. of Canada continued to focus on the development of suitable diamond prospects within its Bangana, Bria, Kotto, and Quadda concessions in the
Haute-Kotto and
Bamingui-Bangoran prefectures. Canadian Vaaldiam Resources Ltd.’s plans to explore for diamond-bearing
kimberlite pipes in the country continued to be put on hold during the year as the company focused on other priority exploration areas elsewhere in the world. Other companies exploring for diamond included Pangea Diamondfields Plc (
Isle of Man), which planned to invest $3.2 million in a bulk sampling plant for its Dimbi (
Basse-Kotto) project concession area, and Gem Diamonds Ltd. (UK), which held exploration and mining permits for the
Mambéré river project near the city of
Berberati.
Mineral fuels The Central African Republic did not produce mineral fuels in 2006 and depended upon imports for its energy requirements. United Reef Ltd. of Canada obtained the rights to a
petroleum exploration permit in the country through a "farm-in agreement" with
Denver-based RSM Production Corp. in 2004. It was unable to continue with its exploration activities in 2006. The company declared
force majeure following the lack of progress in resolving a contract dispute between RSM and the government. The company's exploration permit was for the Doseo and the Salamat basins in the northern part of the country.
Uranium Uranium was discovered in 1966 in the
Bakouma region in the eastern part of the country, and there was further prospecting in the
Berbérati and
Bangassou areas; exploitation has not occurred, because of high start-up costs and poor transportation. Reserves were estimated at 18,000 tons.
Iron Iron deposits estimated at 3.5 million tons have been exploited in
Berbérati and
Bangassou, but production has now ceased. ==References==