The community based mining scheme at Kenticha in Seba Boru, of the Kenticha Mines, is gearing to develop lithium production, an expansion from its production and export of the tantalum ore.
Kenticha Mining plc which was formed by Oromia Mining Group, an enterprise formed by the Oromia Administration, private investors, and the African Mining and Energy (AME) based in Australia, disclosed that the value added operation will have mutual benefit for stakeholders including the public in the area and the government at large.
The mining scheme which was designed to advance the mining business with the modern thinking of a community based mining scheme has already leveled up its plans to engage on social development including development of infrastructure and other social facilities.
“We want to change the image of the mining development with our community intervention including knowledge transfer to empower the local community,” Sammy Million, representative of AME explained.
The company claimed that its approach has to be a structural chain geared towards a ‘win-win’ that makes the community have direct revenue share subject similar to that of the business modality.
The area has been developed under the government control, despite it being closed for about seven years for alleged environmental issues.
In the past few years, the company, which proposed to come up with the value additional production in partnership with the regional government, has followed up with the same by undertaking a detailed study to uplift the development with value addition production.
“Currently, we are on the final stage of coming up with the commissioning,” Sammy said, adding, “The lithium processing plant that is manufactured in South Africa is expected to reach Djibouti in the coming few days.”
According to Sammy, the commissioning work for lithium concentrate is expected to begin in three months time.
Additional, two processing plants are also said to be coming in few weeks time.
If the production line becomes effective, it would generate huge amount of foreign currency for the country since the product is on high demand at the global market.
More than 12 countries have shown signs for off take agreement, “This will be a game changer for us,” Sammy stated.
The mines present a globally important tantalite source in the Neoproterozoic Adola Belt, Qenticha locality in Seba Boru wereda, Guji zone, Oromia region, 600km of Addis Ababa at southern Ethiopia.
For close to three decades, the country has exported the tantalum ore of the mineral, which faced criticism from experts who claimed that it did not fully benefit the country.
AME claimed that it has substantial records alongside major project developments in Africa and has been responsible for originating sponsored projects with more than a billion dollar investment throughout the continent.