Among the resources Ethiopia has been blessed by nature, there are minerals used for industrial inputs. These minerals, like coal, kaolin, dolomite, quartz, feldspar, diatomite, bentonite, which are used as raw materials for various industries, are numerous in terms of reserves.
While these minerals exist locally, factories used to import most of them until recently. Since these minerals have started to be produced in the country, however, many factories have begun to return to domestic products. An example of this is coal. The country has started to become self-sufficient in coal production. Cement factories use a lot of coal and Kaolin mineral is sought by waterworks. Data indicate that the demand for minerals is increasing at a time when industries are expanding.
Industry Minerals Corporation is also known for producing minerals used for industrial inputs for a long time. According to Sadik Kebir, senior expert in minerals and geologist at the corporation, Ethiopia has many types of industrial minerals. The corporation has been working on kaolin, dolomite, quartz, feldspar, diatomite and bentonite among them. Currently, it is building a factory in Oromia region, Guji zone, Ardajla district, and is generating income by producing kaolin, an industrial mineral, at a factory level.
As he said, Kaolin mineral has many benefits. Mainly the water purification of the country is done by this mineral. The corporation is the only manufacturer and supplier of kaolin ore in the country. This company adds value to the mineral and supplies the product to drinking water producers.
“If the production of kaolin ore is interrupted, drinking water production is also considered to be out of business. That is why the Corporation has taken a big responsibility and is working on Kaolin. Kaolin is used for water purification as well as raw material for paper and ceramic factories.
Recalling that the corporation was producing industrial minerals dolomite, quartz, feldspar, and tantalum earlier, he said that especially tantalum and dolomite minerals were produced at a factory level set up in the Kentecha area. He stated that when the tantalum production is stopped, the dolomite production also stopped. The minerals such as dolomite, quartz and feldspar were to be produced only at the level of small associations, so that associations were organized and produced according to the direction set.
Work to restart tantalum production is underway. Alongside the production of tantalum, quartz and feldspar are also value added and marketed. Currently, these minerals are used as inputs for steel and similar factories, and arrangements have been made to purchase the raw materials from manufacturers and provide them by adding value. At the same time, works are being done to modernize the factory that produces kaolin so that the factory can produce it at a better level and use it for different resources. An expansion budget is being prepared for this, he explained.
He also mentioned that an environmental impact assessment has been conducted for the production of diatomite in the Zuway area.
“Diatomite has many uses such as a filter for breweries, soft drinks and juice factories. This mineral now comes from China and various foreign countries with high foreign exchange,” he said, adding that work is being done to replace the imported mineral by producing it domestically using modern technology.
He also mentioned that diatomite is used to produce pesticides. He recalled that in the past, the corporation used to produce this ore and supply it to factories producing pesticides. However, the job of producing the mineral is currently given to unemployed youths organized as small producers, and indicated that the corporation is working to produce the mineral at a high level using technology.
According to Sadik’s explanation, the corporation has been producing kaolin for a long time and is supplying it to factories like the Awash Melkassa Aluminum Sulphite Factory, where it is added value and used for drinking water purification. Now, the factory produces 3500 to 5000 tons of kaolin ore per year. The factory is producing products to meet the demand in the country. It has been possible to create job opportunities for 130 people in this sector.
He pointed out that although the kaolin produced by the factory is sufficient for the domestic market, paper and ceramic factories import the raw material. While explaining the reason behind, the factories mention that the factory is 430 kilometers away from Addis Ababa. There is a large amount of kaolin ore that can meet domestic demand, and the corporation is working to build a modern factory keeping this in mind. There is also a large reserve of diatomite ore that can be supplied to foreign markets beyond the country.
While diatomite ore can be produced locally, breweries and soft drink factories are currently using imported product that needs adjustment in the way the factories encourage domestic production. They should not see the benefit of only for themselves, but from the high foreign currency side that the country spends. If it is possible to continue the work that the corporation is doing on diatomite minerals in the future, it will be possible to produce sufficient production, he stated.
According to him, Kaolin production accounts for the highest revenue of the corporation. One ton of kaolin is sold between 13,000 and 15,000 Birr. It is planned to produce 5,000 tons of kaolin in this fiscal year and it has been possible to produce more than planned.
“The demand for industrial minerals is increasing. The more large factories are built, the more the demand for industrial minerals will increase,” Sadik said. The previously undemanding (unwanted minerals) are becoming in demand. The increasing demand for coal production can be cited as an example. The increase in factories will create a good opportunity to increase the demand for industrial minerals. The corporation is known for industrial minerals’ production, and many factories have come to the corporation and asked whether it will produce the minerals they need, he added.
He further elucidated that the corporation is engaged in searching for other minerals in addition to what it produces based on the mineral demand of the factories. As industrial demand for minerals increases, the corporation works to increase the quantity and quantity of mineral products it produces.
Sadiq pointed out that there are many challenges in the development of industrial minerals. One of these challenges is that the corporation cannot produce industrial minerals directly. In the past, there were mismatches with the unions that produce the minerals. Currently, improvements are being seen. The worked is underway with small-scale organizations that are engaged in the production of minerals. The corporation is helping the associations by creating conditions that enable them to work together and by subsidizing them and sharing a percentage.
The corporation is required to produce the minerals using technology. The expansion of industries has brought increase in demand to a high level, so that more work is expected on industrial minerals, he indicated.
Explaining from the market point of view, he said that the corporation will conduct a survey of the demand for industrial minerals and start work. After identifying the quality and quantity of the type of minerals required by the factories, they will produce it. The quality required by factories varies, and it will be prepared and made according to the standard they ask for.
Minerals are not of equal quality by nature. The quality of a mineral in one place may differ from the one elsewhere. After the minerals are tested in the laboratory, the quality level of the ore is specified to the factories and the supply is done, Sadik said.
He underscored that technology is of great importance to increase the quality of minerals. The problem with the quality of the minerals produced in the country is related to washing. The imported minerals are washed using technology. Besides, the situation where minerals are presented to the market as soon as they are produced causes quality problems.
Currently, a coal washing plant is being established in the country. Thus, coal will be washed and supplied to factories. The presence of such factories will increase the quality of mineral products.
In the future, with the help of technology, work on industrial minerals will continue to be strengthened. Works to modernize the kaolin plant to produce a technology-assisted product will be applied. Preparations are being made to engage in coal production. Many works are being done to produce other industrial minerals like marble, he communicated.
In general, the corporation is required to carry out activities to develop the minerals that are found in the country, so capacity building activities are being done there. Since the government is also helping in the mining sector, it is planned to do many jobs in the industrial and metallic minerals’ sector. A five-year strategy has been designed and implemented by organizing the workforce, he said.
BY BACHA ZEWDIE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 2 JUNE 2024
