Eritrea: Report from Massawa: Copper and Terror

These days, Massawa is witnessing two things: an inflow of huge copper cargo into the city, destined to China; and an outflow of the youth to Sudan and Yemen because of giffa (roundup).

Copper

Reports from Massawa port tell us that the talking point of the people of Massawa have been the huge copper shipments that have been passing through their port. Unlike gold shipments, copper shipments are too bulky to be hidden from the eyes of the public. For instance, the first copper production from Bisha has been reported to be 12 million pounds for the third quarter of this year, and the company expects to reach between 30 and 50 million pounds production level for the year 2013 [please look at the Nevsun report below].

But what the people in Massawa are seeing on daily level are the 50 Chinese-owned low-bed tracks arriving at their city, carrying copper cargo into the docking area. And those who work inside the docking area have supplemented the story by saying that an average of 200 tons of raw copper per month is exported by vessel to China. Every month, two vessels have been seen loading the copper cargo with destination to China.

Last week, a vessel named “Monrovia”, with a panama flag, was seen loading 100 containers at one time. It is estimated that one container carries about 80,000 British pounds worth of copper. That would be 8 million British Pounds for 100 containers; and 8 million Pounds for the second vessel. For a year, that would be around 198 million Pounds. And this just for starters; while the production at Bisha is supposed to pick up, new production in other mining sites is expected to start soon. And nobody has a clue where all the money goes; the entire population finds itself destitute and is living at a malnutrition level, yet the regime couldn’t even provide basic services like electricity and water to its capital, Asmara.

In a contract between one Chinese company and the regime, an agreement has been reached for the nation’s copper output to be exported to China for the next 9 years. Because the Bisha project is supposed to end long before that, the agreement is of course made with other mining projects in mind.  The exploration studies for Megoraib, Adinifas, Embaderho and Dubaruba mining sites have been completed, and production is believed to start soon.

Most of the companies involved in these mining projects are from the West – mainly from Canada, Australia and UK. And most of the expertise of these companies comes, accordingly, from these three countries. At a lower level, there are some Eritreans in the staff working in supplies, accounts and other clerical works; and many of the machinery operators and technicians are also Eritreans. But the daily laborers that make the bulk of the labor force used in these mining companies happen to be from the National Service, who are working like slaves, with inadequate food supply, medieval quarters, and no payment at all (except for the usual salary that all those who serve in national service are paid: 10 US dollars per month). In this mining work full of hazards, they are not even provided with mining clothes, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, etc. What is surprising is that the foreign workers hired by these foreign companies (Ex: Ghanaians and South Africans), and paid high salaries in US dollars, are provided with all the safety clothes required.

Terror

With Massawa turning out to be the hub of mineral exports, and the prefered hiding place of the president, the regime has felt a special need to secure the city. After having purged Asmara entirely of its youth, the regime is now taking a special focus on Massawa and its surrounding areas.

The Northern Red Sea Region of Eritrea ( Zoba Semienawi Keih Bahri) is now secured by a special force namely Division 61 (Kifleserawit 61), whose division head quarter is at Massawa. This special force is directed by Colonel Bereket ( Koronfo), and the special task that he is given to arm the people in the area between the ages of 18 and 65.  And if the people show any opposition to the instructions given by this special force, they are put to prison in the islands around Massawa, with little food and water. Many people of the region are escaping to Sudan and the youth of Massawa are escaping to Yemen by small boats (sambuk). By now, there are no young men left in Massawa city; and people are saying Massawa has overnight turned into a ghost city.

And below is NeVsun report on its copper production at Bisha: