Their number is not exceeding 60; as usual, at Achebo Conventional Coal mining, workers were engaged in their casual job early in the morning. They gathered in front of the three caves that are helpful to mine coal. At that particular moment, they were listening to job directive concerning the portion of task planned to do in that day.
At the end of the discourse, they wore helmet, shoe and other materials to protect themselves from any possible accident. Besides they put headlight on their head to observe things clearly and identify the coal from soil and stone in the dark at long distance.
A group of journalists from various department of Ethiopian Press Agency arrived at Yayo Conventional Coal mining project early in the same morning. Just as most of the workers did, the journalists wore helmet, shining shirt and headlight and went in to one of the coal mining holes. Outside of the hole, some of the workers were pushing a wheel that loaded the coal. Other workers were also carrying the coal and load it on truck being assisted with loader operator.
Shakena Fikadu is serving as a Geologist in the project. This reporter approached her for short interview while she was making effort to check what had been done on the ground. She said that the job helped her to change her knowledge in to practice. “Though the task is tough for women, I am very much interested to engage myself in such practical work. I became familiar with the job after struggling for long. These days, I am giving special assistance for the youth joining the project,” she said.
Moreover, Taju Jemal who is serving as a miner said, “When I began working in the mining production, I was less comfortable; but these days, I am enjoying the fruits working at the project. In addition to acquiring knowledge and expertise from the project, I am supporting my family with the money I earn.”.
The nation should work more on the mining sector to unleash its potential of coal thereby save foreign currency expenditure. The coal mining provides multifaceted jobs. Besides the extract services, as a much-needed input to fertilizer factory, the project helps to generate thermal power, cement factory and brisk production through substituting diesel oil.
It is believed that though the nation has huge potential of coal, it has not yet been properly exploited. Due to this inaction, the nation has been importing coal from various countries outlaying a huge amount of foreign currency.
Since the Metal and Engineering Corporation received the responsibility from the government to mine coal at Oromia State, Ilu Ababora Zone, Yayo Woreda, it has been making various efforts to transfer technology in the sector. Presently, the corporation has recruited and hired five Pakistani and 69 local personnel. Here, every worker has been mining coal in assisting with small machines up to 6 a.m.
According to the study made by Changshi China based company, the Yayo Woreda alone endowed with over 179 million tons of coal potential. Provided that it is possible to produce 100,000 tons of coal per day, the nation can derive a lot from its coal potential for over 40 years.
From this specified place, it is possible to extract world second level coal with in a minimum amount of cost. Besides producing various coal that are serving as an input for fertilizer factory, it has multifaceted benefits. Especially the coal serves as a substitute for diesel oil and save foreign currency. Besides that it also serves to generate thermal power, cement and bricks factory.
Those countries who well understand the benefit of coal are making effort to make their people beneficial out of it and using it as an input to speed up economic progress of their nation. Though it was delayed, Ethiopia has been making various efforts to develop expertise in the sector.
In this regard, the Metal and Engineering Corporation, since its inception, has been making tireless effort to transform knowledge and expertise. For this to happen, it has been working by recruit five Pakistani well experienced professionals. Presently, over 69 people selected from the community has been getting training in the sector.
Kedire Gelete is working as Conventional Coal Mining Manager at Achebo Conventional Coal mining project. He said, “We are laying foundation for the nation’s forthcoming huge coal mining development work. In this project, parallel to technology transformation, the corporation has been making restless effort to introduce the sector and minimize constraints while working to mine coal.”
Furthermore, it is believed that there would be 32 million tons of coal potential in Achebo area. Of the total, on the average 70 tons have been extracted and supplied to Ayka Addis Textile and Investment Group PLC. Each tone of coal sold at a cost of 67 USD. It helped to reduce 75 per cent of foreign currency the nation spend to buy coal.
Though various organizations have been requesting the supply of coal, the Corporation is subject to certain limitations to produce 200 tons of coal per day. However, the new project site which will be brought bout at Wetete area will have a capacity to satisfy the entire demand. It could cater to the ever increasing coal demand of various factories as well.
“The natural topography of coal in the Ethiopian context is by far different from others; and it is possible to produce coal using simple technology and spend reasonable amount of money. However, the nation seems oblivious to its untapped potential and it is not deriving benefits out of it. Hence, the nation should place special emphasis to the project by developing infrastructure for the realization of the project,” said Pakistani Engineer Hussen Mohammad Refik who has been working as Mine Development Project Vice Manager.
Over the past two years, he has been working in Ethiopia. Initially, he had been participating in design and engineering works. Nowadays, he and his colleagues are trying to share their knowledge and experiences to Ethiopians.
[TheEthiopianHerald]