(Recasts after mines minister confirmed report, adds details,
context)
Dec 15 (Reuters) - Ethiopia has revoked the mining licences
of 63 companies due to breach of contract, the mines minister
said on Tuesday without providing any names.
The mining companies whose licences were revoked were said
to have breached contract rules, failed to renew their licences,
or not made royalty payments, Mines Minister Takele Uma said,
confirming an earlier report by state-affiliated broadcaster
Fana.
Some of the companies have also been producing below
standard, the ministry said, according to the report.
Uma said the list of licences and companies concerned would
be released online soon.
Reuters was not immediately able to establish which
companies were involved or to contact them.
Ethiopia has been seeking to bring foreign companies in to
develop its mining sector. The country has deposits of minerals
and metals including gold, copper, and potash - which is used to
make fertilizer.
Norwegian fertilizer company Yara, London-listed
exploration firm Kefi Minerals, and U.S. gold miner
Newmont are among the companies with projects in
Ethiopia.
(Reporting by Helen Reid, Editing by Jon Boyle and Louise
Heavens)
Kefi Gold (KEFI)
