September 25 (SeeNews) - Turkey's energy and natural resources minister Fatih Donmez said that the country gold production is expected to reach 100 tonnes per year by 2025, local media reported.
Turkey produced 38 tonnes of gold in 2019 and plans to produce 44-45 tonnes this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Daily Sabah quoted Donmez as saying on Thursday.
Turkey currently imports 130-160 tonnes of gold annually, which creates a deficit of $8 billion (6.8 million euro) to $10 billion, Donmez said, adding that gold imports reached $11 billion in the first six months of 2020.
Turkey's gold production began in 2001, when the country produced 1.4 tonnes of gold, according to the daily.
($ = 0.8562 euro)