Ethiopia is home to many types of minerals, both identified and unidentified. It is said that it is the source of many minerals, but most of its mineral resources are not identified clearly.
There are a few types of minerals that are being developed through research. Among them are gold, salt, coal, copper, lithium, opal and precious and ornamental minerals, iron and non-ferrous minerals, granite and others.
The work of developing and utilizing these minerals has focused on a few types of them. Especially in the past, the sector has been neglected, which has hindered it from developing its mineral resources as an economic source.
However, in the past few years, the government has made the mining sector one of the five sectors identified as the pillars of the economy in the homegrown economic reform, which has attracted attention and stimulated the sector.
The creation of a favorable environment for investors who want to engage in the mining sector through the activities carried out in the sector has enabled many citizens to engage in the sector. The number of entities that have obtained licenses and are engaged in activities ranging from exploration to production in areas identified as having minerals is increasing.
Developers who have obtained licenses to develop minerals and add value are supplying them to the foreign market in addition to local market. In this way, they are doing a lot of work in terms of earning foreign exchange and substituting import products.
The government’s focus on the mining sector is leading to changes and improvements. In particular, the government has repeatedly stated that the macroeconomic reforms have led to changes in gold and other minerals and have led to high production.
When it comes to mining development, experts in the sector say that the main issue that should be addressed is adding value to the minerals and exportation. It is always stated that minerals are more beneficial to the country if they are exported with value addition than in raw form.
Media reports indicate that encouraging changes are being seen in the work that has been started regarding value added minerals that are supplied to the foreign market.
Therefore, one of the producers that is adding value to the country’s minerals and supplying them to the foreign market is Goodlo Mining Company. According to Haben Gosh, founder and CEO of Goodlo Mining Company, the Company is adding value to its mineral products and supplying them to the foreign market.
As to him, the Company is engaged in the development of the mining sector in Tigray region, and was founded four years ago; it is a Company established with the aim of developing and marketing minerals in the region. It produces industrial, metallic and non-metallic minerals and provides inputs to factories; and also exports.
Among the products are copper, lithium, quartz and precious metals used for jewelry. It has been two years since the Company started exporting its products, and during its two-year stay in the Shire areas of Ensalale and Tenben, Haben explained that it has been bringing positive changes in the mining development activities it is carrying out.
He mentioned that the Company has obtained a license to engage in the mining sector and is developing its mining areas and various sites in the Shire area, where there are many mineral deposits; it is adding value to its mineral products and supplying them to the domestic and foreign markets.
Stating that he is especially promoting value-added products to the foreign market, Haben said China is the main market destination. The Company’s provision of value-added products to the foreign market is not only promoting the country’s mineral resources but also enabling it to earn significant foreign exchange.
Explaining that the company adds value to copper, lithium, lead, quartz, chrome, jewelry minerals and the like, he said, “The Company does not offer its products to the market without adding value.” He is currently producing and exporting copper, and that the company is using some of the minerals it produces as inputs for domestic factories.
The products are being produced in good quality, and that they are also in high demand by foreign companies. The demand to value added products will increase greatly, and that they will have a good price. It is necessary to establish a factory to produce on a large scale, and that the Company is preparing to establish a factory to expand its operations.
“There are mineral deposits in the areas where the company is operating; we do not face any problem in obtaining minerals,” Haben said; for this, he mentioned that the Company has five sites in the areas where the minerals are located, which allows them to produce the minerals in the amount they need.
According to Haben’s explanation, the Company has created permanent employment opportunities for 107 people. In addition, it is making many sections of the community in the area work temporarily, starting from day laborer. Mining development cannot be effective without involving the local community, and the Company must also take on social responsibilities. In this regard, it is in the process of building clinics and schools, and installing water and electricity facilities. It is doing this with the community.
“Since the area where I am developing the mine is my birthplace, I have the responsibility to support the local community in addition to developing the mine. Mining work is not effective in isolation; we will work hand in hand with the community to ensure that it is inclusive for all,” he said.
As to him, from the extraction of a mineral to the end, it goes through many processes. Mining requires care. For this, the Company has many experts, and the minerals are extracted, processed in the required quantity and size and are monitored by professionals until they are presented to the market. This not only prevents problems that often arise from the extraction of minerals, but also allows quality products to be produced.
Especially when they offer products to the foreign market, purchasing countries want to ensure the quality of the production. If they are low-quality products, neither the purchasing countries nor others will accept them. If they maintain their quality, buyers will seek them out. They also show interest in buying them in the future.
“We carry out the production process of value-added products carefully; we provide quality products to the world market and sell them, as well as promote them,” he said.
He added that the Company has exported value-added minerals four times in the past two years, and has been able to export three thousand tons of copper products. Since there is demand and order, it has completed the preparation for further copper exports.
Preparations are being made to export other products in the future. The demand for copper from the purchasing countries is high, especially China, which is the main buyer.
He said that the main problem here is that the domestic laboratories are not up to date. ”The relevant parties, including the government, should work on this; we need modern laboratories that lives up the time.”
The Company is planning to build its own modern laboratory in the future. The quality of the product is known when it is tested in the laboratory; it is not possible to supply minerals that are not of proven quality to the market. ”We are asking the government to support us here; we believe that it will help us,” he said.
”Since Ethiopia is the owner of many untouched and unexplored mineral resources, we have not worked on minerals yet; we are still at the beginning; we still have a lot to do,” Haben said; adding that all possible opportunities should be created to promote the country’s minerals and work should be done to make the world aware of them and buy them.
He recalled that the Company participated in the third International Mining Expo (Mintech) held this year, and said that it was benefited greatly from meeting with many companies, exchanging experiences and creating market connections. “Based on the market connections created with companies, they have shown interest in purchasing our products, so we have been talking to them all year round and are preparing to ship our products,” he said.
He mentioned that the Company is currently operating in five sites; they are working to facilitate the way for both manufacturers and individuals engaged in mining in the area to work with them.
He said that the Company is preparing to acquire a place to build a factory to expand its operations, and that the work will require significant investment. “We have applied for bank support and are expecting a favorable response; it will work diligently to establish a modern mineral testing laboratory.”
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY BACHA ZEWDIE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 29 MAY 2025
