The Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas announced that Ethiopia had earned 150 million USD from the export of different items of minerals in the first half of this budget year, Walta Information Center reported.

Mr. Bacha Faji, Public Relation Director with the Ministry, disclosed that revenue close to 150 million USD was obtained from the export of different items of minerals produced by artisanal miners and mining companies for the past six months. The Ministry had an initial plan to earn revenue of 250 million USD from this sector during this period.

He added that the artisanal miners of the country had contributed 75.86 million USD through export gold, opal, different jewelry minerals, tantalum and industrial minerals collected from them in the six months. While mining companies had exported gold, tantalum and marble products and were able to gain revenue of 73.87 million USD.

Mr. Bacha further stated that except for gold and tantalum, most of the minerals in artisanal mining sectors had shown an increase in the past six months.

Source: Walta Information Center