According to Novy Region, this year gold mining volume has reduced in all Russian gold mining regions except for Chelyabinsk and Amursk regions.

Russian Gold Manufacturers Union used to forecast that in 2004 gold mining in the country will amount to 180 tons. Now the forecast has been corrected down to 172 tons. Experts, however, consider it possible to increase gold mining by means of Matrosov’s pit development in Magadan region in 2010 and Sukhoi Log exploitation in Irkutsk region.

Chelyabinsk region is an exception with gold mining growth planned to be at the level of 17%. In ten months 2004 the enterprises of South Ural have enhanced gold mining by 14% up to 4 tons. New technologies are of great importance in this success.