Ethiopia is blessed with mineral wealth. It has potential mineral resources like gold, marble, coal, and precious stones like opal, tantalum, gypsum, limestone, and natural gas. These are few resources identified among the country’s potential. More recently, minerals such as lithium have been discovered. However, the data indicates that most of the country’s mineral resources are still unexplored and unknown.
Out of the mineral resources that have been identified in the study, attention has not been given except for gold, marble, and jasper. And the mining of these minerals is not supported by technology and has mostly been carried out in a traditional way.
Experts in the field suggest that mineral wealth can provide a great service as a source of income, job creation and foreign exchange. Considering this, the government is working extensively in the sector. In the last five years, this wealth has been studied and developed to increase the country’s economy. Mining is being developed as one of the five sectors identified as the main pillars of the economy in the ten-year master plan for homegrown economic reform.
Since the Ministry of Mines was established independently, it has been striving to energize the sector, promote the country’s mineral resources, expand investment opportunities and create market linkages for the parties involved in the sector. Besides, structures at every level of regional states, where the mining sector is organized independently, are created. They are working to develop the mineral resources of each region by studying and identifying them.
Following this, there are indications of encouraging beginnings. Many citizens have been organized and engaged in the development of gold, opal and coal minerals. Companies are also engaged into the development. The ministry organizes expos to promote the country’s mineral resources, expand investment options and attract investors to the sector. The “Mining and Technology Expo” that started last year is one of the examples of this. The expo will be held this year from 24-28, November, 2023 for the second time.
Awoke Tesfahun, Head of Communications and Public Relations of the Ministry of Mines, said that the Mining and Technology Expo is designed to further stimulate the mining sector. The main purpose of this year’s Mining and Technology Expo, which is known as “Mine Tech”, is to promote Ethiopia’s mineral resources so that they can be used properly.
“The fact that the country has many mineral resources is worthless if we do not develop and use properly,” Awoke said. This year’s expo is prepared to promote the use of this resource and will be attended by foreign companies and large-scale organizations engaged in the sector.
This year’s “Mine Tech’s/Mining and Technology” Expo will be held at the Millennium Hall under the theme of “Our mineral resources, our hope for tomorrow”. As last year’s “Main Tech Expo” was held for the first time, there were gaps in preparation and presentation. Based on the experience gained, arrangements have been made to hold this year’s expo in a different manner.
Awoke mentioned that panel discussions were not held at the last year’s expo, but this year’s is different, as three panel discussions will be held alongside the expo. Discussions will be held with relevant stakeholders on the issues: what the activities being carried out in the mining sector in the panel discussions are; what the sector looks like; the challenges are; the prospects; and how to develop the mining sector. In the consultation forum, experts in the field, companies, government bodies and actors at all levels, and concerned bodies in the field will participate.
The parties participating in the expo include mining companies at the federal and state levels, small producers and any other mining companies. It is expected that others who produce minerals and supply them to the foreign market, receive minerals from producers and supply them to the foreign market, as well as mineral users (those who use precious minerals and other mineral products, organizations that supply and produce large technologies in the mining sector, investors, financial institutions and academics) are expected to participate.
Awoke also announced that, more than 100 international organizations and investors from Australia, Canada, Norway and other countries will participate in the expo. Countries like Tanzania, Ghana and South Africa will also participate and share their experiences. More than 80 local organizations will take a place at the expo and introduce themselves, and many other entities involved in the sector are expected to participate.
One of the gaps in last year’s expo was the inability to involve international organizations. Efforts are being made to reverse that situation in this year’s expo. It is expected that machinery suppliers to industry, energy source, jewelry, iron and steel and construction minerals sector will be presented at the expo.
Awoke recalled that in last year’s expo, the producer and the buyer had created a market connection. This year, apart from expanding access to the mining sector, conditions will be created for better market linkages. He pointed out that this year’s expo is unique in that there will be a panel discussion and that international institutions will participate widely.
According to the head of public relations; different ideas will be discussed in the three panel discussions that will be held this year. In the first forum; Ethiopia’s mineral investment options, activities related to exploration and the problems they are facing in Ethiopia as well as in Africa will be discussed. In the second stage, what the international, African and Ethiopian experiences look like in terms of sector policies will be discussed by concerned bodies with the aim of stimulating the sector and creating awareness. Moreover, the sector’s contribution to the economy will be checked in the third stage.
As to Awoke, it is believed that this expo will bring many opportunities for the sector. One of them is to promote opportunities in mineral investment and attract investors. The second as the experience of other countries shows, the sector will be very important to stimulate the tourism sector in addition to generating income from mining. The current experience shows that there is a good beginning.
When an investor comes to participate in the expo, he will bring Dollars, and this will benefit the tourism sector. The expo will not only stimulate the city’s tourism activities, but also benefits those who are engaged in the service sector. In order for this year’s expo to be better prepared and successful, it is necessary to make the relevant stakeholders pay attention, participate and visit it.
Coordination and joint participation of all parties is needed to better understand and know the best practices and challenges of the sector, technologies and all the activities and potentials of the sector. The Ministry will not handle the matter alone. Regions, security agencies and many other parties involved in the sector must do their part, he said.
Awoke further said that if the mining sector works well, it will generate high economic income. Despite what is being done now, the way to benefit from the sector more in the future will be discussed at the forum. The expo and the panel discussions will show the gaps in the sector and enable to do better work in the future. Participation of the relevant parties is important and the benefits are many.
“In our country’s mining sector, there is a wealth of resources that have not yet been touched and used, and that have not been worked on much,” Awoke said. In order for the expo to be successful, media should promote the mineral resources and create awareness. He mentioned that both the government bodies working in the sector, the private sector and other relevant bodies at every level must fulfill their responsibilities.
“The mining sector is an untapped resource. We must promote it well. It is a resource that can create job opportunities for many and change the lives of many if we promote it. In addition to generating income in the future, it is a resource that can create another tourism movement,” Awoke said.
BY BACHA ZEWDIE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2023
