Ezana Mining Development plc is to build a 17.8 million US dollar gold plant in Tigray Region of Ethiopia. The new mine is expected to contribute to increasing the national revenue from the export of minerals. The mining development awarded the turnkey contract for the project Manhattan Corporation.

The South African mining services provider will build a carbon-in-leach (CIL) gold plant in Northern Tigray. Ezana selected the contractor from four international companies who had responded to the tender it put out. According to the agreement signed between Ezana and the contractor its tasks will include design engineering, procurement, shipment, construction, installation, implementation and after-sales skills development. It is to be remembered that the mining development company signed an agreement with the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines earlier this month. The agreement was signed between Sinkenesh Ejigu, Minister for Mines and Ataklit Araya, General Manager of the mining company enabling Ezana to launch large scale gold mining activities.

It was noted at the time that Ezana has already been operating gold prospecting activities in the area with significant results. The mining company plans to invest 393.7 million birr to implement its project with plans to mine 2017 kilograms of gold in the next two years. The project is expected to open employment opportunities for more than 106 people it was said.

Ezana became the second company to obtain a large scale gold mining license in Ethiopia after MIDROC Gold which has been operating the only large mining effort in the country.

Source: Fortune