• Operation generates 1.2 bln USD annually
ADDIS ABABA – A privately-owned Kenticha Mining Company (KMPLC) revalued plan to become the first lithium mine producer from East Africa and to garner 1.2 bln USD from export annually.
KMPLC Board Member Ali Hussein told journalists yesterday that the company is working to commence the production of lithium and tantalum in the coming three months. Some 80 billion Birr is required to complete the mining project and upon operational, it will employ 1,000 citizens.
Identifying the mineral and sending samples abroad for confirmation has been completed. In the next three months, the company will begin production and this will make it the first lithium mine producer from East Africa. Agreements are being made to supply lithium products to companies in different countries.
Ali, who is also the Africa Mining and Energy Director, further noted that a machine called Processing Plan, which is used to produce the ore, will enter the country next September. “The machine will produce 270 tons of lithium per hour and make our country competitive with developed countries that supply the product to the foreign market.”
“Some 80 billion birr will be needed to produce lithium and thallium minerals at full capacity after the completion of the Kenticha mining project. “Encouraging results have been obtained from mining exploration so far.”
According to him, the project’s materialization is instrumental in creating jobs for citizens and would contribute share to address forex shortage and open the way for local companies to invest in the mining sector.
“Our company signed an agreement with a Saudi Arabia firm and many countries have also shown interest to import the processed product, and this would help curb forex crunch. In the long run, we have the plan to bring the technology and to launch the processing plant, which will help enhance Ethiopia’s mining sector’s competitiveness in the global market.”
Having obtained the license in January 2023, the firm has carried out numerous exploration activities in the lithium and tantalum potential areas. Two process plants, using Dense Media Separation (DMS) processes engineering that have been constructed in Johannesburg, South Africa, are currently being shipped from the port of Durban to Djibouti.
In line with discharging corporate social responsibility, KMPLC is engaged in a number of community-based projects such as providing potable water to Kenticha and surrounding villages, repairing local roads, well digging and the supply of medical equipment among others, Ali remarked.
BY ASHENAFI ANIMUT THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 16 AUGUST 2023
