SIL to invest 1.5 billion USD in the mining industry

“At last we made it!” Mohammed Dirir

By Tamiru Geda

 Many people including government officials were fed up with the frequent interruptions in negotiations for the exploration of natural gas, in the last three decades.
Lately however, things seem to be looking up for natural gas exploration, thanks to some committed petroleum companies which have shown keen interest in joining the Ethiopian government, particularly the Ministry of Mines in investing and exploring the natural gas fields of the nation.
Ambassador Mohamed Dirir said that the Minister of Mines is one of many Ethiopians eager to see this resource available and ready for consumption. He made the statement at the signing ceremony of the Petroleum Development and Production Agreement, in the Hilton Addis with the Middle East based company, Si Tech International (SIL).
Minister Mohamed expressed his happiness on the occasion. Using the same tone that the American administrator of Iraq used after the capture of Saddam Hussein, the Minister declared, “Ladies and gentlemen, at last we made it!” to the cheers of delegates from government offices and representatives of SIL.
Ziad I.Kh Mango, Chairman of SIL was present to sign the agreement with the Ministry of Mines for exploration of the Hilala gas reserves in the desert area of the Somalia Regional State of Ethiopia.
His company, he said, is committed to invest in Ethiopia and expressed regret that they did not do it earlier. “We are here for good and to invest USD 1.5 Billion to develop the 280 square kilometers of gas reserves in Calub and Hillala area.” Zaid also promised to work with the Ministry of Mines as a partner.
According to the company’s work plan, it will install a GTL plant in Dire-Dawa, with a capacity of producing 34 thousand barrels of petrol per day. It will also produce 20 million barrels of liquid petroleum such as benzene, Kerosene and diesel by using gas processing technology at Calub, within the next two years.