Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has announced the launch of the National Precious Metals Refinery at the Bole Lemi Special Economic Zone, established through a partnership between Ethiopian Investment Holdings and Sam Precious Metals.

Featuring a capacity to process over 600 tonnes of precious metals annually, the facility marks a major milestone in advancing domestic value addition, strengthening Ethiopia’s mining sector, and positioning the country as a regional hub for precious-metals refining.

The initiative reflects the Medemer government’s commitment to linking 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. Through this transition from resource extraction to industrial transformation, greater value is being created at home.