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FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
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RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1152
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000515 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/15/2016 
TAGS: EMIN ETRD ECON ER
SUBJECT: FINANCING MINERAL EXTRACTION IN ERITREA: WHO WILL 
PAY? 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY:  AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
REFTEL: ASMARA 250 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Despite on-going concerns about the 
practicality of foreign investment in Eritrea, private 
mining companies continue to actively seek foreign 
investors to bankroll the mineral extraction. Since March 
several development banks, private banks and private 
companies have traveled to Eritrea to further explore the 
viability of investment in the Eritrean mining sector.  And 
as financing is sought, exploration continues with two 
companies reporting significant finds.  Yet, despite 
enthusiasm from some for the possibilities, political 
realities combined with burdensome GSE requirements and 
restrictions may prevent the GSE from reaping the greatest 
of rewards. End Summary. 
 
IMPRESIONABLE INVESTORS COME TO TOWN AND THE GSE IMPRESSES 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶2. (C)  Both Nevsun and Sanu Resources supported visits 
from potential investors in the past 2 months.  The style 
and approach differed greatly.  For three days Nevsun 
together with the GSE entertained export credit agencies 
from Canada(EDC) and South Africa(ECIC), Proparco 
(investment arm of the French development agency) Standard 
Bank, and the European Investment Bank(EIB).  The IFC and 
the Dutch and German development funds were invited but did 
not attend for various reasons.  The entire visit was 
planned without prior discussion or input from the 
development banksQ country missions in Eritrea, many of 
whom are skeptical about the wisdom of investment in 
Eritrea for reasons ranging from concern over lack of 
transparency in terms of mining sector policies to broader 
unhappiness with the GSEQs record on economic policy, 
governance, and human rights generally.  In the end the 
German development fund and the IFC did not attend after 
last minute discussions with their local missions. 
 
¶3. (C) According to staff of the European Commission and 
the local director of the World Bank, the GSE and Nevsun 
gave an Oscar-worthy performance which, in their view, 
mislead those who visited.  The visitors met with the 
Ministers of Mining, National Development, and Finance, 
toured sites, and even had an QunexpectedQ meeting with 
President Isaias.  A bootleg (not for public discussion) 
copy of the EIB report of the visit states QThe Bisha 
Project itself, which can expect to become a highly 
profitable operation does not feature any serious technical 
or market difficulties.  Environmental and social issues 
are being adequately addressedQQ  The report goes on, QThe 
Government seems to be fully committed to the project and 
Nevsun receives all necessary supports.Q (Note: Nevsun has 
established its own subsidiary for the mining and is 
seeking investors in this new company. End Note.)  The 
French Ambassador told us recently that the French 
participants in the visit were, like the EIB, very 
impressed by the GSEQs seeming openness and enthusiasm for 
foreign investment. 
 
¶4. (C) Even when the EIB in its report later acknowledged 
potential problems, its articulation of these challenges 
suggests that the EIB views were colored by the GSEQs 
salesmanship.  The EIB report, for example, acknowledges 
that the GSE unapologetically voiced its unwillingness to 
adhere to policies of the Extractive Industries 
Transparency Initiative (EITI).  It went on, however, to 
seemingly accept at face value the GSEQs explanation that 
in consenting to EITI the GSE would have to accept that the 
international community did not trust them, and when 
according to the EIB report given EritreaQs history of 
abandonment by the international community, it is they, the 
GSE, who have reasons to mistrust the international 
community.  Thus, insistence by development partners to the 
conditionalities of the EITI questions the sincerity of 
EritreaQs commitment to just and fair development and as 
such is unacceptable.  Second, efforts to address the 
 
Qresource curseQ and the risks associated with large 
financial windfalls for poor countries insult the GSEQs 
capabilities, intelligence and its sovereignty over the use 
of its own resources. 
 
¶5. (C) Contrasted with NevsunQs big show, Sanu Resources 
quietly brought in one analyst from a private Canadian firm 
the middle of April. According to SanuQs country director, 
Estaphanos Ogbasghi, several more potential investors could 
visit in the next few weeks, however, it is possible that 
their visits could be delayed until the fall.  While Nevun 
will do its own mining, Sanu anticipates completing all of 
the assessments and then selling the mining rights.  Thus, 
Sanu is looking for potential buyers while Nevsun is 
looking for potential investors. 
 
BUT WILL INVESTMENT REALLY FOLLOW? 
---------------------------------- 
 
6.(C) Yet, even with the hullabaloo around the GSE/Nevsun 
engineered presentation for possible investors and despite 
the GSEQs assertion that everything is order, concerns and 
difficulties lurk in the background.  Demetrius Pohl, the 
Director of Sanu Resouces shared with Poloff his major 
concerns regarding mining operations in Eritrea.  First, is 
the GSEQs history of taking over profitable businesses. 
Second, under the current mining law the GSE could 
potentially reap up to 48% of the mining profits; 
complicating raising funds or securing buyers for the 
mining rights.  Third, the potential under the existing law 
for the GSE to have nearly 30% ownership in a mining 
extraction company is inconsistent with the 10% ownership 
that has become the standard in other parts of Africa. 
 
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 
-------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) Pohl further explained that while the GSE and others 
may attempt to minimize the potential environmental impact, 
the effect of mining on the local communities will be 
significant.  Of primary concern will be issues with water. 
While different mining techniques may be employed to 
minimize the impact, regardless all mining requires a 
substantial amount of water.  He expects extraction 
companies will need to develop dams to collect water for at 
least 18 months prior to extraction beginning.  While the 
pumping of groundwater for mineral extraction is possible, 
the long term damage to the already precarious water table 
and to the environment offers a strong disincentive for 
this practice. 
 
AND STILL MORE DISCOVERIES 
-------------------------- 
 
7.Q(U) As mining companies plan for the future of 
extraction and begin looking for financing, the timeline 
keeps being extended.  While Nevsun planned to have their 
environmental assessments and final deposit reviews 
completed by June 2006, they are still in process and now 
late fall is a more realistic deadline.  Meanwhile, the 
mining companies continue to invest in new exploration. 
Sanu believes they have found another significant deposit 
near their initial discovery in Western Eritrea, although 
they will know more after the drilling is completed in the 
fall.  Sunridge Gold Corp announced in May more promising 
results from the drilling of the Emba Derho volcanogenic 
massive sulphide (VMS) project near Asmara. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶9. (C) Comment: The development of the mining sector 
continues to be perceived as critical to EritreaQs economic 
health and perhaps even as the cornerstone of economic 
recovery.  Yet, the GSEQs policies toward foreign 
investment and its repeated practice of nationalizing 
successful private firms undermine its ability to attract 
investment.  While they may be able to impress some 
visitors, you can not fool all of the people all of the 
 
time.  Eventually, investors will dig past the topsoil and 
question the GSEQs political unpredictability and its 
economic practices.  In the interim, mining companies will 
continue to do their job, prospecting and encouraging high 
risk investment, with the hope that the payoff will be 
enormous. End Comment. 
 
DeLisi