Ethiopia, Sudan reach agreements to utilise border minerals
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By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
June 5, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – Sudanese delegation led by the minister
of minerals, Abdul Bagi Al-Jailani, has reached an initial agreement
with Ethiopia to joint exploration and development of the rich mineral
resources available along their common border in the Ethiopian
capital, Addis Ababa on Tuesday.
Speaking at the occasion Sinkinesh Ejugu, Ethiopian minister of mines,
said that peoples of the two countries take advantage of the mineral
resources along the border with common agreements.
The Sudanese minister to his side explained the cooperation in the
sector could contribute to the development and economy of the two
countries.
The Sudanese minister noted that the mineral exploration activities
should be executed in an environmentally friendly way.
The two sides will exchange geological and geophysical information and
use modern technologies for joint mineral exploitation activities.
The Sudanese delegation also paid a visit to Lake Tana, the source of
the Blue Nile River.
Ethiopia is endowed with rich mineral resources and offers excellent
opportunities for mineral prospecting and development. However the
agricultural land in densely populated areas of the highlands has
deteriorated markedly over recent decades. Deforestation and soil
erosion are most problematic in the marginal areas of subsistence
agriculture.
Geological studies have identified a favourable geological environment
hosting a wide variety of mineral resources.
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ethiopia s green stone
belts contain substantial gold deposits and more than 500 metric tons
of gold deposits.
In addition to gold, there are large deposits of tantalum, platinum,
nickel, potash and soda ash. Among construction and industrial
minerals are marble, granite, limestone, clay, gypsum, gemstone, iron
ore, coal, copper, silica, diatomite and others. The potential
geothermal energy is also good.
Gold is Ethiopia’s main mineral export. It has lately become
Ethiopia’s second largest export item, next to coffee.
According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade statistics, gold is
generating considerable amount of foreign currency, constituting
$179.2 million of the over $1.14 billion total export revenue the
country got in the past six months.
(ST)
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