KEYIR NEWS - As Ethiopia prepares to open East Africa’s largest gold factory, residents see more than just industry, they see opportunity, change and a chance at a better life.
In the rolling hills of Kurmuk, a quiet buzz of anticipation fills the air. For generations, local families at Benishagul Gumuz Reginal State have lived by farming and small-scale trading. Now, they are watching as bulldozers, trucks and engineers transform the landscape into what is set to become East Africa’s largest gold factory.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), visiting the site this week, called the Kurmuk Gold Factory “a symbol of determination to use its wealth productively.” But for the people who live nearby, the project means something more immediate: jobs, schools, and a future for their children.
The factory, which stretches over 20 kilometres and incorporates three dams, is expected to begin production by mid-next year. Government officials estimate it could generate up to $1 billion annually. Yet for the residents of Kurmuk, it is the promise of employment that excites them most. Thousands of new jobs are expected to be created, from construction to skilled positions inside the plant.
Abebech, a mother of four who runs a small tea shop near the site, says she has already seen her daily income increase as workers come in for refreshments. “I used to worry about how to send my children to school,” she says. “Now I can dream that they might even go to university.”
For younger residents, the project brings the hope of breaking away from cycles of unemployment. Alemu, a 22-year-old high school graduate, explains: “Before, we only thought of leaving for Addis Ababa to find work. Now the jobs are coming here.”
The government insists the factory is not just about extracting gold but about transforming lives, linking mining to community development. Officials say investments in local infrastructure, such as roads, electricity and water supply, will directly benefit residents.
“This is not only a gold factory,” the Prime Minister remarked. “It is a transition for Ethiopia, a chance to build prosperity by fully developing every sector of our economy.”
For the people of Kurmuk, those words resonate deeply. The gold beneath their soil has always been there. But now, for the first time, it feels like it could truly shine for them too.