The Ethiopian Privatization and Public Enterprises Supervisory Agency approved the proposal tabled for the construction of a tantalum processing plant at the Kenticha Tantalum Mine.
The proposal for the construction of the plant was tabled by the Ethiopian Minerals Development sc. which owns the mine, last month.
It is to be remembered that the Ministry of Mines had counseled the EMDE to look towards producing value added tantalum at the Kenticha mine.
The EMDSC is a publicly owned company engaged in the production of tantalum concentrate at the Kenticha tantalum mine. The company has exclusively produced and exported raw tantalum up to this point.It is expected that the construction of the tantalum processing plant will give it the capacity to manufacture tantalum wire, powder, negate and nobiumpentoxide with the aim to earn higher revenue from the export of value added products.
The feasibility study for the plant was undertaken by a committee established by the EMDSC made up ten experts in the field. The proposal prepared by this committee was tabled before the PPESA for evaluation.
It is to be remembered that Ethiopia has earned 654 million US dollars from the export of minerals including gold, platinum, tantalum and decorative stones and gem stones in the just concluded fiscal year according to the Ministry of Mines.
The mining sector is becoming a significant source of export income according to Bacha Fuji Director of the Public Relations and Communications Directorate with the ministry.
Source: The Reporter
