Khartoum, Sep 10 (IANS): Sudan's gold production has reached 54 tons during the past eight months both by companies and traditional mining, according to Sudan's minerals minister.

"There is a great increase in the production rates of gold and other minerals," Sudan's minerals minister Ahmed Mohamed Sadiq Al- Karouri said on Wednesday.

"The gold production during the past eight months amounted to 54 tons, including 10 tons by companies and 44 tons by traditional mining," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.

He expected the increasing gold production, particularly on the part of the companies which recently entered production stages, to contribute to the recovery of the Sudanese economy which has been affected by the separation of South Sudan.

Due to the split with South Sudan in 2011, the Sudanese economy deteriorated, causing a loss of two thirds of its oil wealth.

There are around 132 companies operating in the mining field in Sudan, 10 of which have already finalized their studies, determined their needs and set their gold reserve at 944 tons.

With regard to traditional mining, there are more than two million Sudanese people working in the field throughout the country.

In September 2012, Sudan inaugurated its first gold refinery in capital Khartoum, with a production capacity of one ton a day.

Sudan is Africa's third largest gold producer behind South Africa and Ghana. Observers expect it to become Africa's top gold producer by 2018.

Sudan's total gold revenues exceeded $1 bn in 2014 which witnessed the production of 71 tons.