Djibouti Expects AngloGold to Begin Gold Drilling in Septembe AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (ANG), the world’s third-biggest gold producer, and its partner Stratex International Plc (STI) are expected to begin drilling for the metal in Djibouti in September, an Energy Ministry official said. The companies, which obtained 10 exploration licenses in the Horn of Africa country, identified two blocks that may hold “high concentrations” of gold, Abdourahman Omar Haga, director of natural resources in the ministry, said in an interview at a mining conference in Dar es Salaam on April 18. They will continue to explore the remaining eight blocks, he said. The first stage of drilling is expected to take less than four months, Haga said. Thani Ashanti Alliance Co., a joint venture between AngloGold and Dubai-based Thani Investments, will spearhead development if sufficient reserves are proven, he said. Djibouti, which hosts about 2,500 U.S. military personnel at the Camp Lemonnier military base, has a $1.1 billion economy with fewer than 1 million people. The economy relies on services related to the country’s strategic location on the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The joint venture is planning to drill by the fourth quarter “subject to monies being available, the arrangement of appropriate logistical support and approvals,” AngloGold said in an e-mailed response to questions yesterday. The gold price has fallen 15 percent in 2013 after rising sixfold in a 12-year rally through last year. The metal fell 14 percent in a two-day drop through April 15, the worst slide since 1983. ‘Successful Business’ “We have a port, a good investment code and tax exemptions” he said. “It’s easy to have successful businesses here. We just hope that the price of gold doesn’t continue to drop.” Thani and Stratex are exploring an area of land between Lake Assal and Lake Abbe in the southwestern part of the country, where gold deposits are embedded in volcanic rock. Lake Assal lies 155 meters (509 feet) below sea level and is Africa’s lowest point on land. Djibouti’s mining industry, which includes production of minerals including gypsum, diatomite and ignimbrite, accounts for less than 1 percent of total economic output, according to the African Development Bank. Salt Investment SA, owned by Washington-based Emerging Capital Partners, plans to begin exporting salt from Lake Assal, which has a 60 square kilometer (23 square mile) salt crust and 100 million metric tons of the mineral, making it the world’s largest undeveloped salt reserve. JB Djibouti Mining Ltd., a unit of JB Group of India, obtained a gold exploitation license in 2011. The company has yet to begin building a mine. “We have a very high gold anomaly,” Haga said. “If the results give us only one mine, it’s nice for us because we are a small country.” Djibouti is also in the process of renewing its mining code, which hasn’t been updated since 1994. Djibouti is also in the process of renewing its mining code, which hasn’t been updated since 1994. (Bloomberg) Oyster Oil & Gas Limited may too start upgrading its exploration activities. .................................................................................... Djibouti: Changing Influence in the Horn's Strategic Hub Change in Djibouti’s economic and strategic options has been driven by four factors: the Ethiopian–Eritrean war of 1998–2000, the impact of Ethiopia's economic transformation and growth upon trade; shifts in US strategy since 9/11, and the upsurge in piracy along the Gulf of Aden and Somali coasts. With the expansion of the US AFRICOM base, the reconfiguration of France's military presence and the establishment of Japanese and other military facilities, Djibouti has become an international maritime and military laboratory where new forms of cooperation are being developed. Djibouti has accelerated plans for regional economic integration. Building on close ties with Ethiopia, existing port upgrades and electricity grid integration will be enhanced by the development of the northern port of Tadjourah. These strategic and economic shifts have yet to be matched by internal political reforms, and growth needs to be linked to strategies for job creation and a renewal of domestic political legitimacy. (Chatham House)

Lily, 90 is really not very old, certainely not synonimous with disability/alzheimer; read that book about Shangri La and other places 100 years old being the norm and looks like 120s is more the "natural limit"; my gdparents didn't/don't feel that old at that age, save the ill-advised knee replacement that weakened gd-ma. Let's be realistic though, it would be extremely surprising and good to come close to even that in these days of unlimited food, little sunshine and omnipresent stressors/status anxiety. The other extremely interesting finding is that plenty of good relationships/ tight knit extended families or strong community cohesion trumps pretty much all other factors and may be the single most crucial factor (Swedish minority in Finaland or the well-studied US Italian enclave of Roseto); this explains probably well why nurses or others involved in often very stressful conditions, striving to educate, preach to or improve others seem more immune to usual cardiovascular/diabete-metabolic syndrome/cancers scourges...

Oodweyne, our dear friend can easily pass as one in his 20s; this is what happens when you "do all the right things": early sleep, hard work and exercise ect (vice-versa: so many in here looks beyond their years through stress, soo jeed ect; formal age matters little if your system betrays you or serious pathologies develop "early"). Come to think about it, been well-informed but with discipline lacking behind like me may be in itself another source of stress now feel nostalgic about my days running early along the Loire river or the beach before swimming or green tea ect...

Yes Hargeisa department stores sell everything under the sun. I was surprised to see all sorts of exercise machines like the treadmills lol but they are not in every house. Yes more and more people are buying them but these gadgets are still too expensive for most of the locals. True Tallabo, we had in the 2000s an exercise bike brought from Hargeysa, the power cost is too much though even if gadgets are cheaper lately. The great advantage Hargeysa have is that power bills are much lower than in Jabuuti ect without need for ACs, mind you we managed just fine in the 90s summer trips (92, 93, 96, 97) without electricity and 92/93 totally without running water despite the prime locations. The lesson was you could do with very little and adapt quickly, yet have the happiest moments ever. Chimera, the feeling is mutual bro; MMA is right though that cynicism is the core problem back home with all the wars and struggles.

Wash-machines may well already be in Hargeysa but those power hungry gadgets are wasteful and I agree that female maids are not for men, plus one can dispense with it (always good to live like locals for more realism). Juxa is right and you can easily manage with 10 time less than budgeted; that sum was enough for a small import-export or lucrative beekeeping (I could put those $8000 to good use for you). One needs to be ruthlessly frugal in business as old somalis amigo

Chimera, Imperial hotel is ok and right in the centre, not more than $20 in Hargeysa; of course, I'll be happy to host you if there but you can find host families too, eg old diaspora couple, offering board and room if not car etc for reasonnable prices. In any case, cheaper renting/ part-time maid should be another option (can arrange that) but I doubt you'll lack an old aunt or acquaintance glad to invite you and brief you about ins and outs (plus, they somehow love diaspora). I find it hard to expect tourist expenses when I'm at home as if exploring guyana or la reunion island (even then, options and acquaintances do exist). Really like your patrotic optimism though, PM or update please if and when there

sorry AB bro, I forget quickly, thanks even though I don't deserve a song. Malika, yes, this elections plague adds to division. One needs patience and measured expectations.

asc Ngonge, Che, Malika and all; so Africa is now the new frontier (aside from post-electoral trouble). This nephew of Boreh, the djib magnate in opposition, and many others abroad are calling for change; fine, but how do you incite for something you barely take risks for?

Rude or hypocrit people are legion these days but what shocks me is this 28 guy from roughly the same tuulo, he used to be smart student but dabbled into qat before being diagnosed with serious heart disease, then diabete and depression; living alone, relation with the mother is very tense he says (she left him at 6 months after divorce then met him at 19; he can't visit family back home due to finances etc). So, the guy may be dying of his own neglect (meds, blood test) but stressed or overwhelmed he can seemingly be barely blamed; hooyo comes to search the house etc he says (interferences is why he wanna leaves). he's wise but full of regrets about broken aspirations, unable to accept things and move on to follow his health care schedule. This should definitely put things into perspective; felt so ungrateful to Allah too and better, healthier routine sounded suddenly appealing (being spared of one of those serious conditions alone is enough blessing)...

asc Norf, AB, Malika and all; Nuune, I just heard the change of PM, barely notice news; was busy too with advising the nephew about his math or Comp. eng degree in Montreal rather than France ect (if not USA/UK and medicine); very tough choices so young and inexperienced about scholarships, systems ect. Inshallah you'll see Sland too next time. Wyre, people go through such times sxb, dikriga badi and don't be self-absorbed.

Looks like the Afar region has major mining potential; never knew too in the past that Arabsiyo near Hargeysa has gold deposits.

our dear bro Nuune has made me call/find out contacts phones and is making me like the place more; albeit the qayilaad/sieste nap may be new to him. I'll have to get a real big fish for him next time inshallah haye Nuune, I know you will not eat with your hands in Haramous and get blacklisted but do tell any other inconvenience or novelty

I see you are in your element, you should take photos from our free old flat in heron/gasiirada, rented by the state at that time, in front of Peltier/medical school; next, maybe the one in the aviation sector may be there but will pm you the other's phone. If you enjoy even Haramous but leaving this soon, well, maybe ia will introduce you to some next time. I guess you mostly navigated in high class social circles, just like another elite djib

He got an event, are you not still youth or have we overgrown?

Which can easily be halved: more savings and efficiency; I'm looking forward to ina Samale ascendency to cut the fat and introduce annual land taxes (outside small farmers and traders). He's honest, simple guy This is naasnuujin or catering for the elites when what matters is to tax land (no more speculation forcing businesses and traders out of town or money poured into unproductive use); land tax is most efficient too (only constant rents and easy money will be targeted; not traders, workshops, farmers and others) along licensing in Telecoms or remittances. Land taxes proceeds will then further urban planning or infrastructure so badly needed and stop an elite to parasite and live off the masses or lucrative rents. Great read about non ideological or biased economics: Progress and Poverty: by Henry George

The Sheikh A-Rashid Ali Sufi teach tajweed through the faatiha (it can take few week of practices) and each letter is stringently corrected; real expertise in culuum al Qur'aan. Where is Nuune, hope he can swim if traveling away with all this rain and flooding

Nokia are sturdy and they last me years. There are interesting learning/Qur'an apps for androids but not yet convinced that a samsung replace books/pc etc (why waste on gadgets/brands)... It's already enough of distractions to deal with all those cousins etc on gmail/voip/skype/etc, the few websites and readings when I'm supposed to practise my Tajweed ect

Road travel is great for the world unique geology, lakes and forests from Arta onwards to Tadjourah district in particular; there is no road to Burao and the one to Hargeysa is largely unpaved but wild and exciting (animals, sceneries etc). Heavy floods happen very rarely (every decade or so) but things get greener and more exciting with sustained rains. Migs? you mean French mirages etc; there is a huge 1,4 billions US project underway near the airport as per the Washington Post to accomodate a greater base and drones (even Italians signed a lease it seems): Mukhmaazad iyo kaluun (Yemeni fata muus, or sabaayad mixed with banana/dates, with fish grilled in a pit), accompanied with xulbad and basbaas is one of the favorite treats (refined by Yemenis as honey is added to the paste etc); Nuune its all cooked right there once you chose the fish to be grilled indeed. Yeah, people are friendly too and you should not have to spend like a tourist anyway. The youngest one just back got a job at the local BCI bank (during the campaign), he'll show you around if you want to... PS: how do you say rescue in Japanese or German? try and practise your langages if going off road

Colder and flooding necessitating helicopter rescues outside town in Jabuuti; this old chap well connected both with locals and the Frenchs said this night there was heavy casualties by local standards. Nuune be careful not to need an evacuation if traveling far away

nuune lol sxb at least you found a hotel room next to town beach as you said; I hate the qat culture too but its pervasive in Jabuuti, Hargeysa etc. It must feel great the cooler days and running/swimming there; that and "sieste" sleep, then tea in town centre, then fresh dinners/mosques should keep you busy. you just need to ignore some red tape/qat; locals are sweet too when it's not so hot esp.

seems the optic fiber boosted internet speed; yeah, Harar was Somali/Islamic centre before but boast a beer factory lately, quite scenic places indeed (both cities are important and local for Jabuuti people). Inshallah khayr for your ventures...go to guudka, near the old market/rue d'Ethiopia at night, not for the unholy places but the fatiirad freshly made, you will like the authentic cakes/croissants etc at patisserie d ambouli too. Tell me your preferences and I will order/deliver few ones to you

yea there is a lot of variety/green areas if you venture outside bro

nuune;928926 wrote: Finally made it to Djibouti, the city is cool, and the whole country is booming with everything, well that is my feed, next feed when I dip intothe Red Sea and catch that fish oo aalkoliistaha ah. I will be reporting in a different thread dedicated to Djibouti in another time jilaal season indeed so just walk all the way from Heron or the Kempinsky down to Ambouli in 2/3 periods or along route de venise (old presidence, RTD, port, Saudi institute/mosque etc) and along la siesta (from around Haramous, the zone industrielle, along the beach, railway, up to Sheraton). Then, venture into wilder Balbala, Doraleh complex/beach, petit Ambado/Khor Ambado beaches; further up then, Arta, maybe Ali-Sabieh but definitely the Goubet, Lake Assal, Day Forest etc. Heron is another world within the country, but we got Haramous now, even wilder. Do tell any inconvenience or when a guide is needed

Guten Mittag Caano Geel; as you see people aged and we barely see Thierry or others lately

Turkish Airlines flight planned for the end of the Hargeysa airport renovation (June?) and referral hospitals/vocational training announced by the FM M. Abdullahi in Ankara; more positive indeed.