Kefi restarts Ethiopia project following Sept safety incident

The suspension has been lifted after detailed reviews and consultations.

Kefi says the incident was the first time that its personnel had suffered injury, let alone a fatality, in about 12 years of its control of the project.

The incident was concluded on September 10, which Kefi attributes largely to collaboration with the local community.

Since then, the company’s senior management and its local management team have held detailed consultations with community representatives, the leaders at all levels of the Ethiopian and Oromia governments and their relevant agencies, along with other stakeholders in Ethiopia, the company points out, noting that these discussions particularly focused on local community, localisation of operational activities and security arrangements.

As a result of these “positive” discussions, Kefi says it is now restarting the development programme for Tulu Kapi in a phased and measured approach,

Construction is now restarting for electricity connection infrastructure, as well as remobilising for the construction of new access roads.

This will be followed by replacing housing and lands for community members resettling from the mining licence area.

This will then allow the initial construction on the mining licence area, entailing installation of planned security infrastructure; bulk earthworks (for the processing factory and other infrastructure to be delivered and installed); and construction of the permanent accommodation facilities for the workforce.

With its international mining specialist staff and contractors, Kefi says it is prioritising the localisation of field works to strong local firms who have successful records in the region around Tulu Kapi.

The company highlights that its lenders have continued to show their support for both the company and the development of the project during ongoing discussions with respect to updating the development sequencing and associated drawdown of funds.

Kefi says it is encouraged by the expressions of interest to increase the already-strong support from Ethiopian stakeholders, including the local investment and construction sectors.

“We are enjoying huge support from all stakeholders and are now restarting development with a phased and measured approach in which we reinforce the emphasis on safety and community benefits,” Kefi executive chairperson Harry Anagnostaras-Adams says.