Sudan's main state mining company said the country's production of gold was 78 tonnes in the first nine months of this year, exceeding the government's forecast of 12 percent.
The Sudan Mineral Resources Company said that "the revenues and revenues listed in the state budget achieved 97% despite the great challenges faced by the mining sector because of economic conditions."
While Sudan's mining sector has flourished in recent years, officials say most of the gold is being smuggled out of the country, depriving the central bank of a hard currency resource the country badly needs.
Sudan hopes to put an end to the smuggling operations by reviewing the procurement mechanism and adjusting prices in line with the price in the global market.
The Sudanese government has stepped up its efforts to curb the five-year-long smuggling of gold, which has lost the country's treasury a large part of the country's annual production of about 107 tons.
In the midst of the Sudanese campaign to combat the scourge of smuggling, the National Security and Intelligence Service in July foiled the smuggling of 245 kilograms of gold, estimated at about 8 million dollars.
Sudan's economic security forces imposed strict controls this year, resulting in seizures of gold on their way out of Sudan.
