MIDROC Gold Receives Safety Nod

Jul 7 , 2024

MIDROC Gold, the largest industrial gold miner in Ethiopia, received certification from the Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Enterprise for its environmental protection and occupational safety standards. The certification ceremony took place last week at the Sheraton Addis Hotel on Taitu St. Jemal Ahmed, CEO of MIDROC Investment Group, the conglomerate that owns the mining cluster, stated that the recognition would dispel longstanding rumours about safety protocols at its Legedembi and Sakaro extraction sites. These sites include both open and underground pits. The Legedembi open pit site, located nearly 500Km south of Addis Abeba in Oromia Regional State, temporarily suspended operations in 2018 following protests over pollution and health impacts. Despite this, the CEO said the company has adhered to safety standards since it began operations nearly three decades ago after acquiring the rights through privatization in 1997. Earlier this year, MIDROC Gold became a signatory of the International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI), committing to standards of practice and verification audits conducted by independent third-party auditors within three years of initial application and every three years thereafter. Ethiopia's gold production has been challenged by the rise in contraband and artisanal mining, with MIDROC Gold being the only operational industrial mining company, contributing significantly to the country's gold exports.