Mineral export is planned to bring in U.S. $ 714 Million for Ethiopia during the current fiscal year, Ministry of Mines (MoM) disclosed.

Bacha Faji, Public Relations Head at the Ministry, explained the minerals set for export, among others, are gold, opal, tantalum, marble and gemstone.

With regard to artisanal miners, the plan, according to Bacha, is to earn U.S. $ 456 Million from the export of 10,500 Kilograms of gold, 1,260 kilogram of opal, 10,000 kilogram of gemstones and 30 tones of tantalum produced by these miners.

Mining firms on the other hand, he furthered, are expected to bring in a total of U.S. $ 258 Million by exporting 5,351 kilograms of gold, 42, 132 cubic meter marbles and 208 tones of tantalum.

The last fiscal year saw Ethiopia earning U.S. $ 515 Million from the export of minerals, Bacha noted.

Source: Walta Information Center