By Eyasu Zekarias

Despite the country’s opal production increase by seven folds, the foreign currency generation sinks five times than in previous years.

Ethiopia which is now a global known market for opal, has now been best described by the Mines Ministry as a mineral that has not ripped the benefit that it so deserves.

According to the Minister of Mines, Habtamu Tegegn, there is a significant increase in opal production at the country level, but the foreign exchange earnings are low.

Opal, which is now popular among Ethiopians, was discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, in an area called Mezo in the north of Shewa, and in 2008, it was confirmed in a another place called Sunrise in Delanta District, South Wolo Zone. Currently, Afar as well as Gondar and North Shewa are hotspots for opal.

At present, more than 85% of the opal in Ethiopia is exported to India, and very little is exported to other countries. To this end, the ownership rights have been taken away by the Indians who currently lead in the export of the mineral.

According to the minister, Opal is a sector with high waste of electricity, whose procedure requires efficiency.

From 2011 to 2015 EC, the production of value added opal increased by 7 times, but at the same time, the foreign exchange earnings decreased by 5 times.

Meanwhile, the Amhara Regional Mineral Resources Development Office announced that it has planned to export 18,156 kilograms of opal to the foreign market in the budget year. It plans to earn 7.2 million dollars by exporting opal products in the fiscal year. This quarter in actuality it reeled in about 324K USD, from the export of almost 11,000 kgs.

Ethiopian opal prices range from 10-250 per carat depending on size, type and color. High-quality gems will have color over the entire surface, free of visible inclusions on the surface of the opal.