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Ethiopia & China to Produce Mining Maps

The Ministry of Mines, Ethiopia and the Mines Bureau of Chongqing State, China are to collaborate in the preparation of a range of maps for mining investment in Southern and Southwestern Ethiopia.

The partnership grew out of a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ethiopian Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines & Minerals Exploration Development of China late last year.

Geological experts from the Chinese Mines Bureau conducted a preliminary study and presented a project proposal to the MoM led by Minister Sinkinesh Ejigu last week.

The MoM will need to review the proposal as the project is to be carried out in partnership said Masresha Gebreselassie, General Director of the EGS.

It is expected that the proposal will be referred to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in the next two weeks for final approval before a binding contract is signed according to Masresha.

The proposed project will take five years from the launch of field work in 2013. The Chinese Mines bureau will invest 10 million US dollars and 40 experts in the project with 3 million US dollars earmarked for the first year alone explained Masresha.

The Chinese experts will be assisted by local specialists from the EGS, and the MoM will supply office space and other materials to the expatriate experts noted Masresha.

The project will include the development of mining, geophysical and geological maps of the selected area on the basis of a range of study including test drilling as required. It is expected that the maps will offer basic geo-science information to private investors desiring to be involved in mineral exploration and development said Masresha.

Source: Addis Fortune