Energy and Mining

Salt Deposits Discovered in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has significant salt deposits according to studies conducted at various times said the Ministry of Mines. The resources are estimated to be sufficient for more than 100 years said the ministry.

The studies conducted show that the salt resources are to be found in parts of Afar and Somali regional states explained Bacha Fuji, Director of the Public Relations Directorate of the Ministry. The Dalol area in Afar Regional State is particularly notable for large salt reserves he said.

Efforts are underway to begin salt exports to generate foreign currency from the sector noted Bacha. Four companies currently engaged in salt production secured more than 30 million US dollars from the export of salt in the just concluded fiscal year he added.

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Gold Production of Artisan Miners below Projection

Gold production by artisan miners in Ethiopia has been 37% less than projected output in the just concluded financial year.

The artisan miners produced 8327 kilograms of gold as opposed to the 13,200 kilograms anticipated by the Ministry of mines.

The revenue earned from the export of gold however was only 17% below the projected revenue due to the increased price of gold on the international market. Consequently the revenue was just 88 million US dollars short of the 528 million US dollars projected by the ministry noted a report from the MoM.

The performance registered in the reporting period, however, exceed that of the previous year with the total amount exported (6,515 kilograms) surpassing what was exported last year (5250 kilograms).

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Petra Energyia Submits Proposal for Ethiopian Concession

Brazilian petroleum company, Petra Energiya, submitted a proposal for a concession in the Ogaden and Abay basins of Ethiopia according to sources.

The actual blocks that the company has submitted a proposal for are yet to be disclosed as the proposal is being evaluated by experts in the Petroleum Licensing and Administration Section of the Ministry of Mines.

The MoM awards concession upon negotiation with companies unless there are several companies interested in the same block in which case the ministry floats a tender according to officials.

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Ethiopia Signs Contracts for Solar Projects

The Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy signed agreements with Chinese and British companies for the implementation of a solar energy project. The contract with Chinese Poly technologies is worth 208 million birr while the contract signed with Yoseph and Elizabeth International Trading plc is worth 10 million birr.

The agreement was signed by Alemayehu Tegenu, State Minister for Water and Energy, Xie Xiaoyan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Cheng Zerong, Vice President of Poly Technologies and Yoseph Getachew, Managing Director Of YEIT plc.

The contract allows for 25,000 solar home systems with different capacities ranging from 8 watts to 130 watts to facilitate rural electrification to power domestic uses said Alemayehu speaking on the occasion.

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Ethiopia Suspends Tantalum Production

Ethiopia suspended the production of tantalum concentrate at the Kenticha Tantalum Mine. The Ethiopian Minerals Development Enterprise stopped the production of tantalum to support the manufacture of value added tantalum products as per instructions from the Ministry of Mines.

The ban could also be 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.

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