Ethiopia suspended tantalum mining and exports until the country acquires the capability to refine the mineral in a bid to earn more revenues from exports. The decision means that Ethiopia will not export tantalum until the nation has an operating processing plant said Tamrat Modjo, Head of the Traditional Mining Department of the Ministry of Mines.
The government wants to retain enough reserves for when the plant is operational while exploration is underway for more reserves in other parts of the country he said.
It is expected that the processing plant will require an investment of 500 million birr. The government aims to start exporting 1,000 tons a year for the 15 years that the national reserves are expected to last said Tamrat.
A study is underway investigating the type of machinery required in relation to the cost and the technology transfer. It is expected that the study will be completed next Ethiopian year for government approval up to which time the reserves will remain under government protection.The country can only earn the appropriate benefits from the many uses of tantalum mineral if it processes the mineral domestically claimed Tamrat.
The ban, signed into effect by Sinknesh Ejigu, Minister of Mines, is also due to the increasing contamination with uranium, a radioactive element, which is making it impossible to ship the raw material.
The uranium contaminated mineral has been mined by local traditional miners with no negative health consequences reported as of yet explained Traditional Mining Department of the MoM.
Source: Addis Fortune
