Introduction
The Geology of Eritrea
Mineral Potential of Eritrea
Eritrea hosts significant volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits, which are important producers of copper, lead and zinc, as well as lesser amounts of gold and silver.
The Mineral Industry of Eritrea by Thomas R . Yager. United States Geological Survey, 2005
Eritrea produces industrial minerals and construction materials which include basalt, cement, common clay, coral, granite, gravel, gypsum, kaolin, lime, limestone, marble, pumice, quartz, salt, sand, and silica sand. She also has deposits of gold, barite, chromium, copper, feldspar, iron ore, lead, magnesium, nickel, potash, silver, talc, and zinc.
The Future Investment Opportunities
The prospective geology and recent discoveries of Bisha, Emba Derho and others together with an attractive and competitive investment regime makes Eritrea one of the most attractive and rewarding mining investment opportunities.
Mining and Mineral Exploration News and Reports
Mining Journal special publication – Eritrea, August 2010
A Glimpse into East Africa’s Natural Resources by Olad Hassan, 14 December 2009
East Africa is believed to have one of the biggest oil deposits in the world.
Q&A: Eritrea’s mining potential, players and risks, Reuters, 19 Nov 2009
Eritrea is seen on the threshold of a mining boom, with hopes it may boost its agriculture-based economy. But question marks remain over security and sanctions, keeping foreign investors on their toes.
Eritrea: South Boulder Officially Granted Licence for Mining Project, South Boulder Mines, 28 July 2009
Eritrea poised for minerals boom, 22 May 2009, Asmara, Eritrea.
Mineral exploration company reports on Eritrea, 02/04/2009
Group blasts company for mining deal with Eritrea by The National, Toronto. 03 January 2009.
Growing up in Eritrea, Semere Sibhatu learned in elementary school about his country’s wealth of mineral resources. More than three decades later, Nevsun Resources, a company in Canada where Sibhatu now lives, is poised to translate that potential into production.
Bisha Mining project, Frank Jomo, 10 Jan 2008
Eritrea makes mining a backbone of its national economic rehabilitation.
“Facts confirm that Eritrea is endowed with plenty of mineral resources,” Minister of Energy and Mining, Jan 4, 2008
The Mineral Industry of Eritrea by Harold R. Newman. United States Geological Survey, 2006
Mining in Eritrea by Eyasu Hadgu, Hidri No. 22 February 2006
Does Eritrea really possess significant mineral deposits? What activities have been undertaken on the mining sector? When are we going to start benefiting from our mineral resources? An interview was conducted with Mr. Tesfai Ghebresillasie, Minister of Mines and Energy, to find answers to the above questions and others concerning mining in Eritrea.
MDN Northern Mining: New Eritrean Exploration Program Starts. Dec 8, 2005, Business Wire.
Eritrea Annual Review 2000
Eritrea's Emerging Mining Industry
Bermuda's Sahar joins Eritrean mining surge
Mining and free trade in Eritrea
Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki has guarded his country jealousy since independence, pushing a self-reliant attitude that encourages Eritreans to rebuild Eritrea for themselves.
But in order to develop the potentially lucrative mining and trade sectors, he will have to open up the country more to foreign money and therefore possible foreign influence.
Western Mining Companies And Slave Labor In Eritrea
The gold rush in Eritrea has attracted many Western companies, among them Canada’s Nevsun Resources Ltd. and Sunridge Gold; Britain’s Andiamo Exploration and London Africa; and Australia’s South Boulder, Sub Sahara Resources, Chalice Gold Mines Ltd. and Gippsland Ltd.
Investment Opportunities in the energy sector of Eritrea
Gold
Gold, mining not Eritrea's magic wand: President by Andrew Cawthorne, Asmara (Reuters), May 21, 2009.
Eritrea's incipient mining sector is not a magic solution for its economy and needs to be managed wisely to ensure benefit for its people and future generations, President Isaias Afwerki said.
Eritrea awards more mining licences, sees gold output in 2010 by Andrew Cawthorne, Asmara (Reuters). May 19, 2009
Eritrea awards more mining licences and sees gold output in 2010. Mining Journal, 19 May 2009.
Resource Update on Koka Gold Deposit, 1 May 2009
Eritrea 'to start gold mining by 2009'. World Gold Council, 14 May 2008
The African state of Eritrea plans to have its first gold mine in production before the end of next year, according to reports.
Eritrea copper-zinc deposits attract investment, Afrol News, 4 January
Eritrea issues mining permit for Bisha project by Liezel Hill, 8th January 2008
Chalice Gold Mines and Sub‐sahara Resources announce proposed merger to consolidate and fund Eritrea gold project, 3 April 2009
U.S. should deter foreign mining in Eritrea by Jeremy Clarke. Nairobi, May 13 (Reuters)
Mining companies should be deterred from working in Eritrea and banned from raising capital or listing their securities in the United States due to Eritrea's rights abuse record, a U.S.-commissioned report said. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said Eritrea's systematic violation of religious freedoms should mean prohibitive restrictions for foreign firms joining the nation's impending gold mining boom.
Sunridge Gold Has Already Defined Four Projects In Eritrea And Has Antofagasta As An Exploration Partner by Charles Wyatt. June 07, 2010
Sunridge Gold is one of an exclusive, but growing group of mining companies operating in Eritrea. Sunridge stands out, however, as it was not only one of the earliest into the country, but is in a strategic partnership with Antofagasta which is one of the biggest copper producers in the world.
Will new US focus on extraction operations abroad lead to changes here? by Avinash Gavai
Last month, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, a division of the State Department, recommended that the US deter foreign mining in Eritrea following allegations of religious oppression taking place in the small African nation.
Chalice to complete Eritrea gold study in July by Mariaan Webb, Perth
East-Africa focused gold developer Chalice Gold Mines on Monday reported that its feasibility study for the Koka gold deposit, in Eritrea, found that owner mining would significantly reduce the life-of-mine operating costs. The Koka deposit forms part of the Zara gold project, and has an estimated total mineral reserve of 5,04-million tons, at 5,8 g/t gold, for a contained mineral reserve of 944 000 oz.
Chalice plans share placement to up stake in Eritrea gold project by Esmarie Swanepoel. 24th May 2010, Perth.
East Africa-focused Chalice Gold Mines would raise A$9,1-million through a share placement to major shareholder Franklin Resources and other institutional and sophisticated investors.
Eritrea Mining Industry Video: UN sanctions no deterrence for Eritrean mining - Bisha by Jeremy Clarke, 15 January 2010. Asmara (Reuters)
Eritrea's fledgling mining sector is unlikely to be affected by U.N. sanctions on the Red Sea state, the general manager of Bisha mine, run by Canada's Nevsun Resources, said on Friday.
Experts see Eritrea leading regional mining surge by Jeremy Clarke. Asmara (Reuters)
An impending mining boom in Eritrea will challenge oil-rich neighbours to make it easier for foreign companies to prospect across a massive geological structure in the region rich in base metals and gold, analysts say.
Eritrea is the New Frontier for Mining Companies, Even in spite of UN Sanctions by Charles Wyatt, May 14, 2010
Bermuda’s Sahar Joins Eritrean Mining Surge, 19 February 2010, Asmara (Reuters)
Eritrea granted a mining exploration licence to Bermuda-based Sahar Minerals on Friday as the Red Sea state continues its drive towards a highly anticipated mining boom, industry officials told Reuters.
Eritrea’s Mining Industry Starts Rolling, 16 September 2009
Several international mining companies are setting up shop in one of the least explored countries on earth, Eritrea.
Eritrea: African Mining Newcomers Attract Investors, 25 October 2009
Gold mining companies targeting Africa have been busy with mergers, strategic partnerships and takeovers in the current year. The industry has witnessed 14 mergers, in the run up to secure a foothold in the African mining sector, alone from July to October 2009.
Companies and State Institutions Engaged in Mining and Mineral Exploraiton
The Ministry of Energy and Mines
The Ministry was established in 1993 through the Legal Notice No.37/1993.
NGEx Resources Inc.
NGEx Resourcesis a Canadian mineral exploration company. In Eritrea, the Hambok project has indicated resources containing 69,000 ounces of gold, 231 million pounds of copper and 531 million pounds of zinc as well as inferred resources containing 104,000 ounces of gold, 319 million pounds of copper and 652 million pounds of zinc.
Chalice previously Sub-Sahara
Chalice owns an 80% interest in the strategically-positioned 615 square km Zara Project in Eritrea.
Sunridge Gold Corp.
Sunridge has four mineral deposits on the Asmara Project, which contains 1.28 billion pounds of copper; 2.5 billion pounds of zinc; 1.05 million ounces of gold, and 31.2 million ounces of silver.
Nevsun Resources Ltd.
Nevsun's Bisha Project is a fully financed and permitted high-grade gold, copper and zinc deposit. The project's production is projected to return payable metals of 1.06 Million oz gold; 9.4 Million oz silver; 734 Million lb copper and 1,075 Million lbs zinc.
Beijing Donia Resources Co., Ltd.(DONIA)
Donia is a company specializing in overseas mineral resources exploration.
Legislations and Regulations governing the Mining and Mineral Industry
Proclamation No. 141/2004: The Electricity Proclamation Chapter I
The Proclamation promotes efficient, dependable, safe and economically sustainable electricity operations in Eritrea as well as private sector and community participation in the same.
Proclamation No.108/ 2000: A Revised Proclamation to govern Petroleum operations
The exploitation of Petroleum resource of the country will greatly contribute to the economic growth and welfare of the Eritrean nation.
Legal Notice No. 45/2000: The Revised Regulations on Petroleum Operations
The Mining Law
The legal framework governing the conduct of all mining and related operations within the territory of Eritrea is embodied in a Mining Law comprising: Minerals Proclamation No
68/1995, Mining Income Tax Proclamation No. 69/1995 and Regulations on Mining Operations Legal Notice No. 19/1995, all of which were promulgated in March 1995.
Proclamation No.68/1995
Proclamation to promote the development of mineral resources. This Proclamation, in association with the Regulations of Mining Operations (Legal Notice 19/1995), provides the framework for the development of both commercial and artisanal mining in Eritrea
Legal Notice No.19/1995: Regulations on Mining Operations
The Mining Licensing System
