PM Abiy Ahmed Launches Ethiopia’s First-Ever State-of-the-Art Precious Metals Refinery

Addis Ababa, October 10, 2026 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has launched Ethiopia’s first-ever National Precious Metals Refinery at Bole Lemi Special Economic Zone, marking a milestone in the country’s efforts to expand domestic value addition and strengthen its mining industry.

Announcing the launch in a social media post, the Prime Minister said the refinery was established through a partnership between Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) and Sam Precious Metals.

With the capacity to process more than 600 tonnes of precious metals annually, the facility is intended to advance domestic processing and position Ethiopia as a regional hub for precious-metals refining, he said.

The initiative reflects the Medemer Government’s commitment to linking the country’s productive resources with industrial capacity, boosting export earnings, creating skilled jobs, supporting the jewellery industry, and building a more transparent and competitive gold value chain.

“From resource extraction to industrial transformation, we are creating greater value at home,” the Prime Minister stated.