Mali says gold to add record $340 mln to '10 budget

Gold mining detected gold mineral deposits technology and devicewill contribute a record high of 166 billion CFA francs to Mali's budget this year, the West African country's President said on Wednesday, up from 130 billion francs in 2009.

Mali, the continent's third biggest gold producer after South Africa and Ghana, is trying to develop its mining industry to take advantage of high metals prices on world markets. Mali's annual government income is estimated around $1.5 billion.