The local and foreign companies undertaking such work significantly include Asia World company working in Baw Sai mining block, Lin Pyae company in Yadanar Theingi, Myanmar Ivanhoe company in Monywa, India's Delco in Hinda and China's Non-Ferroutl Metallic company and Kenbo in Chin state.
As for gold exploration activities, some mining blocks were granted with private companies under a lease term with the state enterprise for at least three years and 35 percent of the gold output from the blocks is set to be shared by the state, while the rest is allowed to be sold by the private investor freely in domestic market.
So far, 380 small blocks for gold mining have already been granted to the private entrepreneurs and most of the gold are produced from those blocks in Sagaing and Mandalay divisions, the Myanmar mining authorities said, adding that besides the two divisions, other small blocks have also been under exploration in Kachin, Mon and Bago states and divisions.
Over the past two years of 2008 and 2009, Myanmar granted some five blocks in Shan state's Mongshu and Namhyar, Kachin state's Moenyin and Sagaing division's Mawhan Mawlu and Mandalay division' s Mogok for domestic investors to carry out gem and jade mining work on competitive bidding basis.
Earlier in 2006 and 2007, over 500 gems and jade mining blocks were allotted for such undertakings.
With each block measuring one acre (4,000 square-meters), these blocks were normally leased on a three-year term.
