Page 179

 65 128 131 
 70 ' 80 80 
 167 175 179 
21,000 
25,000 
' 8,000 
 21,000 20,000 
 25,000 30,000 
 ' 9,000 10,500 
 ' 7,761 8,687 9,930 
 239 309 331 
 ' 110 112 279 
 21 24 26 
 84 94 104 
 r620 685 1,155 
  179The Mineral Industry of Burma 
By Donald C. Wininger' 
 Burma's mineral industry showed moderate improvement during -1972. Production
from the Bawdwin nonferrous metal mine near Lashio recorded a slight increase
over 1971 output; however, production of refined lead and silver from this
mine decu-ned owing to the continuing decline in the grade of the ore. Production
of tin and tungsten recorded a substantial increase in 1972. However, output
from the Mawchi tin-tungsten mine declined during the year. The U.N. Development
Program has provided $2 million to Burma to help reopen other tin and tungsten
mines in southern Burma. 
 Offshore exploratory drilling was begun during the year but was interrupted
in 
September by a blowout in which the drilling rig was destroyed. External
government-to-government assistance continued to be provided to the Burmese
petroleum sector by Japan and West Germany, and by the Export-Import Bank
(Eximbank). 
 The mineral industry of Burma has become very much a government business.
In fiscal 1971—72 (October through the following September), 11.5%
of the Government capital expenditure was designated for the mining sector
as follows: Myanma Oil Corp. (MOC), $17.9 million; 2 Myanma Bawdwin Corp.
(MBC), $1.9 million; and Mineral -Development Corp. (MDC),: $5.7 million.
PRODUCTION 
 "Mineral" output totaled $43.6 million in fiscal year 1970—71 and.
$46.9 million in 1971—72, according to official Burmese national budget
estimates.~ Crude oil and limestone are included, but not the value added
derived from mineral and metal processing. Thus, products like salt, cement,
refined oil, and processed metals are excluded either in total or in part.
 1 Physical scientist, Division of Nonmetallic Minerals. 
 2 Where necessary, values have been converted from Burma Kyats (BKs) to
U.S. dollars at the rate of BKs 5.3487=$l.00. In the open market, the kyat
is worth much less; actually, $1.00 can buy -15 kyats or more. 
 Ministry of Planning and Finance. Report to the People by the Government
of the Union of Burma on the Financial, Economic and Social Conditions for
1972—73. 
Table 1.—Burma: Production of mineral commodities 
(Metric tons unless otherwise specified) 
Commodity 1 1970 1971 1972 '  
METALS 
Antimony, mine output, metal content                           
Copper: 
Mine output, metal content e                               
Matte, gross weight  
Iron and steel: 
Crude steel e 
Semiinanufactures e 
Lead: 
Mine output, metal content' 
Smelter: 
Refined lead  
Antimonial lead (18% to 20% antimony) 
Manganese ore, gross weight 
Nickel: 
Mine output, metal content                                
Speiss, gross weight                                      
Silver, mine putput thousand troy ounces -_ 
 See footnotes at end of table.