China to study coal mine in Ethiopia

China to study coal mine in Ethiopia
2006-03-13
CHINA National Complete Plant Import & Export Corporation received a contract to study the potential of coal reserves in southern Ethiopia, its management said yesterday in Addis Ababa. The contract was signed between the company and the project office for coal phosphate fertilizer under the Ministry of Trade and Industry yesterday, said Xu Wanhua, chief representative of the firm's Ethiopia office. The coal mine is located in Yayu, Oromia state. Ethiopia has had a long-standing interest in developing coal reserves at this mine and building a fertilizer manufacturing plant. Ethiopia spent more than US$60 million importing close to 200,000 tons of urea fertilizer last year. According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ethiopia may spend more than US$75 million dollars this year as global market prices of urea have risen to US$370 per ton. Alarmed by the skyrocketing price of fertilizer, Ethiopia's prime minister's office has ordered fresh surveys to be conducted at the Yayu coal mine. China National Complete Plant Import & Export Corporation has been hired to complete the job in one year and determine whether the mine's reserves could help manufacture 300,000 tons of fertilizer a year. It will also examine the mineral content of the coal and make a forecast as to how many years the mine could last.
Xinhua