This is an interesting article! Ethiopia is spending close to $2.160 billion US dollars( at $180 million/month) on the import of fuel. All the exports of the Nation won't be able to cover the cost of importing oil, for the total tab for Ethiopian export stands around a billion and a half US dollars. What a dibacle! All our valuable commodities ( coffee, seseame seed etc) cannt even be swapped for oil. if this figures are correct Ethiopia's future is bleak, indeed. Predictions are the price of oil will double soon, meaning our tab will reach 4 billion us dollars soon. It is unsustainable by any stretch of imagination.

The irony is Ethiopia is sitting on major proven Natural gaz deposit in its eastern restive Ogaden region which could not only supply the Nation with its need but also allow it to cash in big time. The Chinese Company which was outsourced by the Malaysians to dig for this ever more valuable resource has made it clear that it isn't willing to go back to resume operation. The reason being the Ogadeni terrorists who killed their personnel along with dozens of Ethiopians. Ethiopia, the Powerhouse of Africa, couldn't safeguard such a vital operation. Whose fault it was is anyone's guess! We have the largest army in Sub Saharan Africa and it is a shame we couldn't protect them. A Nation of 80 millions cannt be at the mercy of a couple of thousand rebels. What suprised me more was the willing of Gaz Prom of Russia which wanted to fill in the Chinese soon after their unwillingness to resume their task in the Region. I am quite sure that the Russians are intimately aware of the potential of Eastern Ethiopia for they were digging deep and wide for a dozen years during the Mengistu Era.the fact they are willing to fill the 'cowardice' chinese tells me that there is even more fossil fuel than was anticipated by the Chinese/Malaysian companies. I am certain that Russians ( with their new found wealth) are more risk-averse than their poorer comrades to the South.

This means that the solution to Ethiopia's predicament massive tab for oil is its unequaviable commitment to make the Ogaden oil/ gaz rich region save and stable for the interested parties to exploit the valuable commodity. What is needed is to make every inch of the this teritorry safe for the oil companies to function without fear for the safety of their personnel.

Ethiopia has a massive army stationed near its border with Eritrea to safeguard the hottly contested, but notso valuable land, near Badame. We are sitting on a ticking time bomb of ever rising fuel cost. We might as well cede Badame, as envisioned by the International Arbritrage, so as to make the area around Ogaden safe. Afterall, it is the Eritreans who are abatting the Ogadeni fighters. Assuming they refrain from doing so, I see no reason for having a significant portion of our Armed Forces facing an illusionary dysfunctional State of Eritrea. Eritrea knows well that if it were to attempt to have a second round incursion it will be a ' Death Wish'.

Moreover, it has come to my attention that the price of Potash has reached $1000 US. This is relevant because Ethiopia's Affar Region is sitting on 180 million tonnes of this valuable commodity which is used as fertilizer and raw material for glass making and countless other products. This Region is infested by Eritrean trained bandits. Despite the fact that Ethiopia has signed an agreement with an Indian company, it will be difficult for them to have a flauless operation given the fact that the area is adjacent to Eritrea. The signing of peace Treaty with Eritrea is a 'must' for both projects to sail through. Pragmatism isn't a sign of weakness but a prudent policy. In conclusion, Badme is the hurdle to our dream to be self sufficient in fossil fuel and Potash production. We will be foolish to let our ' pride' be stumbling block.

If History is a good lesson, numerous Nations has to swallow their pride to have their immediate concern addressed. The Russians ceded valuable land to Finland. So that to buy time. Mind you The Finnish were financing the White Armies fighting the Reds who were a thorn in Lenin's Red Russia. Lenin, even signed a Peace Treaty in 1918 with Germany, even though Germany was on the brink of defeat. So long as the Revolutionary Democrats( ex Communists) were willing to buy time by engaging with ' Arch Foe' Afewerki, folks in Addis won't mind giving peace with Eritrea for the sake of the very existence of the Nation whose sustainablity is being challenged by ever rising fuel price and armed insurgents based in Asmara. For Afewerki won't have an exucse to hold his subjects hostage anymore if Ethiopia was to be forthcoming. Aboveall, it is in Ethiopia's Natioanal Security to counter the burgeoning gaz bill which morethan ever is fueling inflation and poverty in the Hinterland. If Ethiopia is to cede land to Sudan based on Colonial Era Treaties why not honor those same treaties and give Badme to Eritrea. Provided Eritrea pledges to refrain from arming The Shebabs and Ogadenis and Afar separatists who pose clear and present danger. By the Way, Russia did get back much of the Land it cedes to Finland decades later........

This is an interesting article! Ethiopia is spending close to $2.160 billion US dollars( at $180 million/month) on the import of fuel. All the exports of the Nation won't be able to cover the cost of importing oil, for the total tab for Ethiopian export stands around a billion and a half US dollars. What a dibacle! All our valuable commodities ( coffee, seseame seed etc) cannt even be swapped for oil. if this figures are correct Ethiopia's future is bleak, indeed. Predictions are the price of oil will double soon, meaning our tab will reach 4 billion us dollars soon. It is unsustainable by any stretch of imagination.

The irony is Ethiopia is sitting on major proven Natural gaz deposit in its eastern restive Ogaden region which could not only supply the Nation with its need but also allow it to cash in big time. The Chinese Company which was outsourced by the Malaysians to dig for this ever more valuable resource has made it clear that it isn't willing to go back to resume operation. The reason being the Ogadeni terrorists who killed their personnel along with dozens of Ethiopians. Ethiopia, the Powerhouse of Africa, couldn't safeguard such a vital operation. Whose fault it was is anyone's guess! We have the largest army in Sub Saharan Africa and it is a shame we couldn't protect them. A Nation of 80 millions cannt be at the mercy of a couple of thousand rebels. What suprised me more was the willing of Gaz Prom of Russia which wanted to fill in the Chinese soon after their unwillingness to resume their task in the Region. I am quite sure that the Russians are intimately aware of the potential of Eastern Ethiopia for they were digging deep and wide for a dozen years during the Mengistu Era.the fact they are willing to fill the 'cowardice' chinese tells me that there is even more fossil fuel than was anticipated by the Chinese/Malaysian companies. I am certain that Russians ( with their new found wealth) are more risk-averse than their poorer comrades to the South.

This means that the solution to Ethiopia's predicament massive tab for oil is its unequaviable commitment to make the Ogaden oil/ gaz rich region save and stable for the interested parties to exploit the valuable commodity. What is needed is to make every inch of the this teritorry safe for the oil companies to function without fear for the safety of their personnel.

Ethiopia has a massive army stationed near its border with Eritrea to safeguard the hottly contested, but notso valuable land, near Badame. We are sitting on a ticking time bomb of ever rising fuel cost. We might as well cede Badame, as envisioned by the International Arbritrage, so as to make the area around Ogaden safe. Afterall, it is the Eritreans who are abatting the Ogadeni fighters. Assuming they refrain from doing so, I see no reason for having a significant portion of our Armed Forces facing an illusionary dysfunctional State of Eritrea. Eritrea knows well that if it were to attempt to have a second round incursion it will be a ' Death Wish'.

Moreover, it has come to my attention that the price of Potash has reached $1000 US. This is relevant because Ethiopia's Affar Region is sitting on 180 million tonnes of this valuable commodity which is used as fertilizer and raw material for glass making and countless other products. This Region is infested by Eritrean trained bandits. Despite the fact that Ethiopia has signed an agreement with an Indian company, it will be difficult for them to have a flauless operation given the fact that the area is adjacent to Eritrea. The signing of peace Treaty with Eritrea is a 'must' for both projects to sail through. Pragmatism isn't a sign of weakness but a prudent policy. In conclusion, Badme is the hurdle to our dream to be self sufficient in fossil fuel and Potash production. We will be foolish to let our ' pride' be stumbling block.

If History is a good lesson, numerous Nations has to swallow their pride to have their immediate concern addressed. The Russians ceded valuable land to Finland. So that to buy time. Mind you The Finnish were financing the White Armies fighting the Reds who were a thorn in Lenin's Red Russia. Lenin, even signed a Peace Treaty in 1918 with Germany, even though Germany was on the brink of defeat. So long as the Revolutionary Democrats( ex Communists) were willing to buy time by engaging with ' Arch Foe' Afewerki, folks in Addis won't mind giving peace with Eritrea for the sake of the very existence of the Nation whose sustainablity is being challenged by ever rising fuel price and armed insurgents based in Asmara. For Afewerki won't have an exucse to hold his subjects hostage anymore if Ethiopia was to be forthcoming. Aboveall, it is in Ethiopia's Natioanal Security to counter the burgeoning gaz bill which morethan ever is fueling inflation and poverty in the Hinterland. If Ethiopia is to cede land to Sudan based on Colonial Era Treaties why not honor those same treaties and give Badme to Eritrea. Provided Eritrea pledges to refrain from arming The Shebabs and Ogadenis and Afar separatists who pose clear and present danger. By the Way, Russia did get back much of the Land it ceded to Finland, during the turbulant Revolutionary Days, decades later........