KEFI Gold and Copper (KEFI ) has hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at its Tulu Kapi gold project in Ethiopia.
The ceremony, formally marking the start of construction, was attended by His Excellency Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and His Excellency Shimelis Abdisa, President of the Oromia Regional State of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Senior government and local community representatives and other project stakeholders also attended.
The ceremony took place at the construction site of the new precinct in the local village of Genji, which is being built to house resettled farmers from the Tulu Kapi mining licence area.
This is part of the livelihood restoration and development programme being undertaken by TKGM as part of the Project, and includes financial compensation, new farmlands, vocational training, education and health facilities.
"We are deeply honoured and proud to be entrusted with the responsibility to implement the Tulu Kapi gold project, which we believe is Africa's highest grade and highest recovery gold development,” said KEFI Founder and executive chairman.
"Having been banked by major African development institutions as well as international mining specialist investors, we have designed and now implement all aspects of the Project to the highest Ethiopian and international standards for environment, social, technical and financial disciplines."
View from Vox
KEFI has steadily and patiently put all the pieces in place for the beginning of construction at Tulu Kapi, so it’s great to see the occasion marked in such a suitable way, and in the presence of such august personages. Mining in Ethiopia is going from strength to strength, and with the gold price still riding high Tulu Kapi ought to be able to generate positive outcomes in several different directions.