2merkato

The first phase of a project to produce up to date and comprehensive data on the energy sector was completed and submitted to the Ministry of Water and Energy on Wednesday. The study was carried out at a cost of 4.3 million birr.

The project known as the ‘Energy Sector Mapping and Database Development (ESMAD) was initiated by the MoWE and financed by GiZ. The study was carried out by Professional Consulting on Energy and Development in collaboration with eight other private consultants.

It took 16 months to complete the first phase which included the development of GIS enabled, web based energy database. The database allows various energy maps to be produced on the basis of data collected on the supply of electricity, renewable energy biomass and hydrocarbons.

Artisan miners sold 109.5 million US dollars worth of gold to the National bank. The 2,064 Kg of gold sold by the miners was 52% more than the 1,357 kg the central bank expected to collect the first quarter.

Artisan miners increased production because of increases in the international market and the National Bank’s offer of 5% on the price, according to Tamrat Mojo, head of traditional mines, manufacturing & transactions department at the MoM.

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation signed an agreement with ABB to extend and upgrade transmission substations. The project to upgrade the existing substations in the central part of Ethiopia is expected to cost around 26 million US dollars.

ABB will be expected to enhance the automation, telecommunication, protection and control systems of the substations.
The agreement signed with EEPC mandates ABB with designing engineering, supplying, constructing and commissioning the substations. The contractor will also be responsible for all civil work.

Allana Potash Corp announced on Tuesday that it has intersected three zones of strong potash mineralization in hole DK-11-28, found in the northwestern region of the company’s potash concession in Ethiopia.

Allana is encouraged by the consistently strong potash mineralization seen in the results from the northwestern part of its concession according to Farhad Abasov President and CEO.