Delbi Coal Mining Share Company is set to extract 30,000 tonnes of coal in Ethiopia.

The company will be extracting coal from an open mining field in Jimma. Delbi plans to increase its production to 200,000 tonnes of coal in time.

Delbi has extracted and sold an estimated 46,000 tonnes of coal since it began operating. The company has begun preparation for the mining project.

It is expected that sub-Bituminous bitumen coal will be produced through open mining. Delbi will also carry out exploration for other types of coal.

Delbi has formed a conservation and safety department that will investigate the environmental impacts of its project to the ministry of mines.

The move to use coal has been welcomed by cement factories in Ethiopia, some of whom have been importing coal for their own use. The decision to replace coal for the heavy furnace oil used by cement factories is expected to reduce foreign exchange costs.

(Soured from www.2merkato.com)