African Mining & Energy Pty Ltd, a mining company representing Australian companies engaged in the development of Africa’s resource industry, became the only company to submit its offer for a lithium-tantalum joint investment in Kenticha. The bid was opened by the Public Enterprises Holding & Administration Agency. Thirty-two companies bought the bidding document, but only the Australian company made an offer. The bid was aimed at searching for business partners for joint investment engagement to mine the Kenticha lithium, tantalum and pegmatite deposits and to add value to its concentrates, according to the bid document. The tender committee that consisted of four members - two from the Agency and one each from the Ministry of Mining & Petroleum and Ethiopian Biofuel Corporation - told Fortune that the company’s offer will be evaluated according to the bid document before disclosing the result. Kenticha Tantalum Mine is located in Guji Zone, Oromia Regional State. It has 17,000tn of tantalum deposits. Established in 2000, the site occupies 5.4 square kilometres of land and had an annual production capacity of 200tn of tantalum. It was closed by the region’s Environmental Protection Authority in November 2017 for alleged environmental pollution.
