2merkato

The Ethiopian Ministry of Mines has suspended issuing mining exploration licenses as of last week. The ministry has stopped issuing licenses to take stock of the local and foreign companies it has already provide licenses to according to Tolossa Shagi Moti State Minister of Mines.

The ministry needs to clarify which companies are active according to the agreements they entered upon receiving licensing and which have failed to commence operation explained Tolossa.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy is to set up two servers to make the national energy data base available to the public. The move follows the completion of the first phase of the Energy Sector Mapping and Database Development project.

The Ministry expects to make the database available through a website hosted on new servers to be acquired following an invitation to bid for their supply.

A Hong Kong based Ethiopian company, South West Energy, is to sign a petroleum production sharing agreement with the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines.  The Ministry is prepared to sign the agreement upon approval from the Cabinet said Sinknesh Ejigu Minister of Mines.

South West Energy presented an inquiry to the MoM to undertake exploratory activities in the Gambella Basin in August 2010. The Petroleum Licensing and Administration Department of the MoM reviewed the proposal from SWE and negotiated terms in the absence of other interested parties.

Eight mobile assembly companies that are operating in Ethiopia have finished the preparatory works to export their products, according to Metal Engineering Industry Development Institute.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Industry has signed agreement with the Chinese Association of Industry Zones for construction of an industry zone in Dire Dawa town. 

According to the agreemnet, the association will draft master plan for the industry zone and carry out study on the construction of the zone.