Individuals smuggle precious stones

By Kaleyesus Bekele

In the past nine months the country earned more than 350,000 dollars from the export of different kinds of gemstones, it was learnt.

In recent years, the gemstone export has been increasing. Last year the country exported gemstones worth 300,000 dollars. Some years ago the figure was only 70,000 to 80,000 dollars. Gebre-Igzabher Mekonen, mineral operations department head with the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), told The Reporter that ruby, emerald, opal, rhodholite, almandine and other gemstones were found in Ethiopia in different regions.

 Precious stones are found in North Shoa, South Gondar, Hararghie, Borena, and Konso. Opal is mostly found in North Shoa in Menz and South Gondar. A precious stone called Amazonite is found in Konso and Kenticha localities.  There are also semi-precious stones in Afar and Tigray Regional State. Gebre-Igzabher said that some of the precious stones had high quality adding that they had high economic value. The precious stones are exported to Thailand, United States and European countries. The precious stones are sold to stone carvers, jewelry shops or individuals. According to Gebre-Igzabher, some Ethiopian gemstones were sold for high price in open auctions in the US and Europe.

The gemstones were mostly extracted by individuals in rural areas. “Farmers produce opal in North Shoa. There are four opal producers cooperatives comprising 130 members. They extract the opal and they sell it to ornament traders. At the moment the cooperatives have 100 kg of opal,” Gebre-Igzabher said. The MME is providing technical assistance to the cooperatives.

The ministry was organizing farmers in gemstone producing areas. However, most of the precious stones produced in different regions were smuggled out of the country. “Individuals buy the stones from the farmers and sell to ornament traders who smuggele the stones out of the country via the airport,” Gebre-Igzabher said. Since the stones small in size it easy to smuggle them. And it always difficult control the transaction. What we are trying to do is to formalize the business,” he added.