Signing the Agreement were Alemayehu Tegenu, Minister of Mines and Energy and General manger of the company, Rajesh Gupta.

The agreement gives the Licensee an exclusive right for a small scale clay mining within the License Area for the coming 10 years.

The mine will be used as a raw material for cement factory which is under operation by Abyssinaia Cement plc. in Sululata.

The licensee is believed to produce 224,000 tonnes of clay from the license area of 99,430.5 sq. mt.

The company is reported to have allocated an investment capital amounting to 2,746,277 Birr on the clay extraction project.

Minister of Mines and Energy, Alemayehu Tegenu urged the licensee to pay due attention to ensure the development of the surrounding community and the safety of the environment in the course of the mining operations.

Alemayehu also said that the ministry will give a strong support for the success of the mining operation.

The ministry has granted and is administering 80 licenses so far which have been issued to 56 privately owned exploration and mining companies.

3:45-4:14

E: 4:51 p.m.

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