Potential of artisanal miners growing: Ministry

Addis Ababa June 7 (WIC) – The Ministry of Mine said the income generating and mining production potential of artisanal miners has shown a remarkable growth in the last few years.

Ministry Public Relations and Communication Directorate Director, Bacha Faji, told WIC their productivity and livelihoods have improved following the establishment of artisanal minerals exchange directorate director under the ministry.

During the past the network among artisanal producers, transitory brokers and exporters had given rise to illegal contraband trade of minerals, which according to him such illegal link of the three affected the revenue from the sector to decline.

However, the ministry now issues licenses for the artisanal producers, transitory brokers and exporters and this has boosted the income and productivity of the traditional producers and the country’s revenue, he said.

Artisanal producers in Ethiopia are actively involved in the production of several types of minerals. They are taking part in gold and other minerals mining in various parts of the country.

Artisanal miners engage themselves in mining of gold, tantalum, emerald and opal Oromia, Amhara, Gambela, SNNP, Tigray and Benishangul Gumuz regional states.