Ministry Signs Salt, Black Granite Mining Agreements

Addis Ababa, February 6(ENA)-- The Afdera Private Ltd. Salt Production Association and the Ministry of Mines and Energy have signed over 77.5 million Birr salt mining agreement here on Thursday.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry, the agreement would provide the Association a license to mine edible salt in large scale at Lake Afdera in the Afar National State.

The Association would produce 100,000 tons of edible salt annually and create 162 jobs, the release said.

The Ministry has granted the Association an exclusive right that would enable it to engage in mining of edible salt with in a 2.38 square kilometers license area for the coming twenty years, the release said.

The agreement was signed by Minister of Mines, Ambassador Mohamoud Dirir and General Manager of the Association, Dori Kebede.

Similarly, the Ministry has signed over 4.9 million Birr agreement with the National Mining Corporation Pvt. Ltd. Company providing for the mining of Black Granite in Lega Dembi area, Borena zone of the Oromia State.

According to the agreement, the company would produce 17,550 cubic meter of black granite for the coming ten years.

The agreement was signed by Ambassador Mohamoud Dirir and Company General Manager, Melaku Beza.

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