From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Apr 03 2009 - 10:56:15 EST
Eritrea moves energy minister in reshuffle
Fri Apr 3, 2009 9:43am GMT
By Jack Kimball
KAMPALA, April 3 (Reuters) - Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has
reshuffled eight ministerial positions including energy and environment, a
letter seen by Reuters on Friday said.
The letter from the Foreign Ministry, sent to embassies in Asmara, did not
give a reason for the changes, which it said had taken effect in mid-March.
Ahmed Haj Ali, who has held numerous cabinet posts in the past, takes the
helm at the energy ministry as investor interest in Eritrea's mineral
resources is heating up.
International firms are prospecting for gold and base metals in the western
region of the Red Sea state, where explorers say they have found more than 2
million ounces of gold so far.
The former energy minister, Tesfai Ghebreselassie, took over environment.
Tesfai was head of the energy ministry since 1993.
An Asmara-based mining source said Tesfai's appointment to the environment
post was good for the industry.
"It puts someone sympathetic to and experienced in the mining industry in a
potentially crucial role as we go forward from advanced exploration to
feasibility, construction and production," the source said.
There are six companies from Canada, China and Australia already exploring
for gold and industrial metals. Eritrea has said it expects the first gold
mine to go online late this year. On Friday, gold prices held steady above
$900 an ounce.
The other moves were in fisheries, tourism, local government, health,
development and labour and human welfare. Ministers are rarely removed from
the cabinet, analysts say, just sent to other ministries.
Only one of the new ministers was not in the old cabinet. (Editing by Daniel
Wallis)
C Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
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