ADDIS ABABA-Minister of Mines and Petroleum said the mining sector has generated more than 500 million dollar and 60 thousand jobs in the first half of the current budget year.
Sisay Ayalewu, Mines License, and Administration Directorate Director at the Ministry told The Ethiopian Herald so far the Ministry has given 20 mining licenses for companies to generate more than 500 million birr, which is more than the plan for the period.
The Ministry is also processing 30 mining license requests, he added.
Mekebeb Meskelekal, Public Relations Director at the Ministry also said that the mining sector has also created 60,000 jobs in the same period.
The sell of various mines in the domestic market have also generated over 364 million Birr.
As a pilot project, the Ministry has also supplied 1649.8 petroleum to the domestic market and saved more than half a million USD which would have been spent on imports. He also said that the ministry is working with The United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to establish marble mining and production training center in Benishangul-Gumuz state. The training center would have an important contribution in supplying skilled man power to the sector.
The ministry has undertaken many reforms to strengthen the mining industry. The absence of organized structure between federal and regional states is a major challenge that is hindering the growth of the mining industry.
The Ethiopian Herald February 20/2020
BY MULATU BELACHEW
