ERITREA ? POTASH ? DANAKALI ? Australian company seeks potash mining license in Eritrea(Reuters)
Australia mining group Danakali Ltd has applied to Eritrea for a mining license for its Colluli Potash Project, which is expected to start production in 2019, the company's chief executive said. The country has deposits of gold, copper, zinc and fertiliser-ingredient potash. Its first commercial-scale mine began production in 2011. Danakali CEO said the aim was to secure project development funding, commercial off-take contracts and approvals to start construction. The company anticipates being in production by 2019. The project is a 50:50 joint venture with state-owned mining firm ENAMCO. The aim is to develop it in two stages, each with production of about 425,000t a year. The potash deposits are near the coast, making exports easier than other mines further in land that have to move ore or concentrate long distances to the main port. Danakali had already signed memorandums of understanding for off-take agreements with potential buyers for a little more than 800,000t of sulphate of potash, said the source.
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