"The Government?s main objectives for the mining sector during the fifth 5-year plan were as follows: to expand mineral surveys and prospecting to increase production of crude oil, natural gas, and major raw materials for the development of heavy industry; to increase production and quality of concentrates that have the highest potential on the export market; to carry out research for the extraction of new minerals; and to emphasize those projects with the potential for the highest rate of return on investment. In addition, various incentives and amenities were to be provided workers with a view to enhancing mine productivity. Toward the above goal, the Government of Burma?s investment in the mining sector during fiscal year (FY) 1987 was $82 million or 6.7% of total public investment, substantially exceeding the originally planned allotment. Approximately 30 minerals or mineral-related commodities were produced during 1988. The most important were barite, cement, copper concentrates, crude oil, gypsum, lead, natural gas, nitrogen fertilizer, silver, steel, and concentrates of tin, tungsten, and zinc. In value, crude oil was by far the most important followed by natural gas, copper concentrates, nitrogen fertilizer, and tin metal and concentrates. The longstanding policy of not importing crude oil was reversed during 1988. The shortage of foreign exchange was surpassed by the economic problems caused by the gradual but continued decline in domestic crude oil production. None of the minerals was produced in large enough quantity to be a major factor in the world market. The usually important tin and tungsten output dropped after midyear, probably losing several places in the world output standing..."