Ethiopia's State Minister of Mines and Energy Sinknesh Ejigu , has said over 3,000 metric tons of gold is smuggled out of Ethiopia annually.Addressing traditional, or artisan, gold miners at Mizan Teferi town, Ejigu said traditionally extracted gold and precious metals have been smuggled out of the country through neighbouring countries.
Dow Jones reports Ejigu also said traditional extraction of gold and other precious metals by local people results in excess wastage of natural resources, adding the government has plans to provide training to traditional gold miners to curb the problem.
