Speaking at the occasion Sinkinesh Ejugu, Ethiopian minister of mines, said that peoples of the two countries take advantage of the mineral resources along the border with common agreements.
The Sudanese minister to his side explained the cooperation in the sector could contribute to the development and economy of the two countries.
The Sudanese minister noted that the mineral exploration activities should be executed in an environmentally friendly way.
The two sides will exchange geological and geophysical information and use modern technologies for joint mineral exploitation activities.
The Sudanese delegation also paid a visit to Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile River.
Ethiopia is endowed with rich mineral resources and offers excellent opportunities for mineral prospecting and development. However the agricultural land in densely populated areas of the highlands has deteriorated markedly over recent decades. Deforestation and soil erosion are most problematic in the marginal areas of subsistence agriculture.
Geological studies have identified a favourable geological environment hosting a wide variety of mineral resources.
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ethiopia s green stone belts contain substantial gold deposits and more than 500 metric tons of gold deposits.
In addition to gold, there are large deposits of tantalum, platinum, nickel, potash and soda ash. Among construction and industrial minerals are marble, granite, limestone, clay, gypsum, gemstone, iron ore, coal, copper, silica, diatomite and others. The potential geothermal energy is also good.
Gold is Ethiopia’s main mineral export. It has lately become Ethiopia’s second largest export item, next to coffee.
According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade statistics, gold is generating considerable amount of foreign currency, constituting $179.2 million of the over $1.14 billion total export revenue the country got in the past six months.
Khartoum, May 18 (SUNA)
The Government on Wednesday signed seven agreements on gold and minerals prospecting in North Kordufan, Red Sea and Shamalia StatesThe signing ceremonies was attended by the Governor of Northern State Fathi Khalil, Governor of North Kordufan Mutasim Mirghani and Acting Governor of Red Sea State Salah Siral-KhatimMinister of Mineral Resources Dr. Abdul Bagi Al-Gailani signed for the Government of Sudan with Guhaina Company for Trade and Investment, for block B-1 in Northern State,, North Harber Company, for block 62 in Red Sea State, Arak Mining Company, in Red Sea State, Mebsco for Integrated Solutions, for block 51 in North Kordufan State, Elaiwan Enterprise for Engineering, Investment and Contraction, for block 48 -A in North Kordufan, Better Widows International for Services, for block 47 in North Kordufan, as well as Fofa Engineering Company, for block 48-B in North Kordufan StateGeneral Director of the Geological Research Corporation Dr. Yusuf Al-Samani explained that the Ministry will extend all technical and consultancy assistance to the companies that signed agreements with the Ministry of Mineral Resources on the sitesRepresentative for the signing companies Hassan Ibrahim Malik called on the Sudanese private sector to join the newly established technical company which will contribute in developing the Mining Sector in Sudan, expressing optimism that start of work will tiger exploitation of mineral resources all over the Sudan for the benefit of the peopleMF
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