Ethiopia has a wide variety of mineral resources including gold, silver, iron-ore and various types of precious stones. It also produces industrial minerals such as gemstones granite gypsum, as well as a number of construction inputs.
With the aim of enhancing the economic contribution of the sector thereby accelerate nation’s transition goal to industrialization, the Ethiopian Geological Survey has been putting lots of efforts to realize the set goals within short period of time.
The Institute has been playing a crucial role through generating, managing and delivering the basic geosciences (mineral and geo-energy) data of the country for the public and the business sector.
On top of that, the Institute has recently disclosed about 4000 geoscience information that are valuable and essential for research institutions, industries, researchers, and investors.
According to Tameru Mersha, Communication Director of the Institute, the researches the Institute has carried out focuses on prospecting nation’s precious metals, industrial and coal minerals potential. So far, it has identified different kinds of mineral potential buried in various parts of the country such as potash and phosphate minerals that are basic raw materials for industries, gemstone which is an input for construction factories.
The researches help to supply raw materials to industries, enhance construction sector, modernize agriculture, and create job opportunities, he said.
Furthermore, the Institute in collaboration with the Oromia Agriculture Research Institute and Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resource is working on a project that aims to increase the product and productivity of farmers as well as minimize soil acidity, supported by the Finland Government.
Taking the adverse impacts of soil acidity in the agriculture sector in to account, the project is striving to treat acidic soils occurred due to intensive cultivation and inappropriate use of chemical fertilizers.
The scientific studies have vital effects in terms of increasing product by improving the technique of treating soil acidity, feeding industries and advancing the construction sector as some of the minerals can be used in chemical and metallurgical industries
As to him, the findings of the study have brought about tangible results in terms of supporting the progress that was observed in Oromia State in treating acidity of soil. To scale up the outcome and implement it on other states, the Institute is carrying out various activities in Amhara State.
Apart from this, in the just ended Ethiopian budget year, the Institute has identified about 18 mineral rich areas in different parts of the country. The identified minerals include seven industrial minerals, six alluvial gold and five gemstone deposits in Amhara,Tigray, and in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ (SNNPs) states respectively. The studies are said crucial for attracting investments in the country.
Promoting investment is one of the major aims of the study. Following the scientific studies conducted by the Institute to identify nation’s mineral resource potential areas and the information distributed to stakes closely linked to the sector, many foreign companies have shown keen interest to take part in the mineral exploration and mining business.
Currently, there are approximately 135 functional companies of which; while 80 companies are licensed and involved in the exploration activity, the rest are engaged in the production of various minerals.
Close to 4000 information were distributed to research institutes, industries, researchers, and investors, reiterated the Director.
“The government is committed to create more jobs from the sector. To this effect, our Institute is working focusing on directly linking youth in the already identified mineral rich areas. Thus, massive job opportunities are created for the youths in those areas,” he added.
It is clear that minerals are important resources and vital elements in the economic development of a country. The country though has a variety of mineral deposits required by industries, including gemstones, granite, gypsum, coal, iron and steel, cement, gold, silver copper, iron-ore, precious stones, they are not exploited at the desired level.
Hence, concerted efforts should be exerted to promote nation’s untapped mineral potentials so as to attract investment in the sector.
The Ethiopian geological survey is mandated to carry out geological survey researches, discover (identify) and give verification on maps of mine potentials.
The Ethiopian Herald July 17/2019
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
