Ethiopia will begin natural gas export within 3-5 years time, the Ministry of Mines (MoM) said. “This will enable the country to earn 1 billion US dollars annually,” Tolossa Shagi, Mines Minister told FBC today. The Chinese firm POLY-GCL Petroleum Group Holdings Ltd has concluded an agreement with the Ethiopia to develop all the natural gas deposit at Calub and Hilala areas in Somali Regional State within 25 years. “The country will begin export after 3–5 years as the natural gas development activity is nearing completion,” Tolossa said. According to the Minister, the Calub and Hilala fields have a deposit of 4.7 trillion cubic feet of gas. Despite continued efforts since 1950s EC, the resource has not yet been exploited, he said. However, the efforts made during the past ten years have now born fruit, he said. According to Tolossa, the Chinese firm has begun the first round drilling. It will also start the second round drilling shortly. The development is going well as the firm is getting financial support from the Chinese government, he said. Ethiopia and Djibouti have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of more than 1,000 km of fuel pipeline that enables the former to export natural gas via port Djibouti, he said. In addition to generating foreign currency, more jobs and technology transfer will be created during the development activities, he said. Translated and posted by Amare Asrat FANA BC