WHEREAS the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia provides that the right to ownership of all natural resources of Ethiopia is exclusively vested in the government and in the peoples’ of Ethiopia and that the government is the custodian thereof;

WHEREAS minerals are non-renewable natural resources and that the government shall ensure the conservation and development of these resources to the socio-economic progress of all Ethiopians;

WHEREAS it is the obligation of the government to protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations and to ensure ecologically sustainable development of minerals;

WHEREAS to achieve these ends it is essential to promulgate a new law on mining operations;

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Article 55(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby proclaimed as follows: