Welcome to the Centre of Excellence for Mineral Exploration, Extraction, and Processing
at the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University.
Dear valued partners in Industry, Government, Academia, and Colleagues.
Today, we stand on the threshold of a new era for our country's mineral sector. Although our country is endowed with economic metallic minerals, base metals, industrial minerals, and gemstones, the mineral sector is still highly underdeveloped due to limitations in skilled professionals, problem-solving geo-scientific research, high-caliber analytical laboratories, and technology-based innovations in mineral exploration and development. Hence, overcoming these challenges is the very purpose of the establishment of the Mineral Exploration, Extraction, and Processing (MEEP) Center of Excellence in AASTU. The Center is a testament to our collective ambition: to not just participate in the minerals industry, but to lead it through knowledge, innovation, and sustainability.
Our mission is clear and multifaceted. We are building a nexus where cutting-edge research in mineral exploration, extraction, and processing flourishes. We are also committed to cultivating the next generation of industry leaders, MSc and PhD graduates, who are equipped with both theoretical knowledge and technical capabilities to undertake problem-solving geo-scientific research. The MEEP CoE is striving to serve as a bridge, connecting academic research with the practical needs of industry and the strategic direction of the government.
Through this synergy, our Center's aim is to be the strategic partner in solving complex challenges in the mineral sector, and driving efficiency across the entire mineral value chain (exploration-extraction-processing). In a nutshell, our center is committed to undertaking problem-solving geo-scientific research, producing MSc and PhD holders, with technical knowledge and development capabilities, and bringing meaningful impact to our country through capacity building, providing quality consultancy, and using our research to pinpoint the most promising mineral resources of the country.
Let's work together to make our Center the definitive hub for mineral Exploration, Extraction and Processing, and a catalyst for sustainable economic growth. We are always open for collaboration.
Sincerely,
Solomon Kassa (PhD)
Head, MEEP Center of Excellence
Addis Ababa Science and Technology University
📧 Alt. Email: Solomon.kassa@aastu.edu.et
📞 Phone: +251979048564
🔗 ORCID: 0009-0006-1925-6454
📍 Location: Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, College of Applied Science, Department of Geology
About the CoE
Mineral Exploration, Extraction and Processing Center of Excellence is one of the eight Center of Excellences established in AASTU. The MEEP CoE mission is threefold: pioneering research, producing extraordinary graduates, and serving the nation and industry, through capacity building, high-quality consultancy, and identifying the country's mineral wealth that guide sustainable economic growth.
The Center targeted to tackle the mineral sectors' biggest challenges: finding minerals more efficiently, extracting them more responsibly, and processing them more effectively. Basing its mission on three fundamental pillars, the Center is striving to transform challenges in the mining sector into opportunities for growth.
By integrating cutting-edge research with interdisciplinary expertise, the center aims to:
- ✦ Provide facilities and infrastructures to facilitate advanced research works in mineral exploration, extraction and processing.
- ✦ Produce high caliber MSc and PhD holders with extraordinary technical knowledge and development capabilities.
- ✦ Provide technology-based innovations for the development of new technique to speed up the exploration and mining processes.
- ✦ Promote organizational innovation involving government, industries and academia.
Core Values
Pursuing groundbreaking research and innovative solutions in mineral exploration and processing.
Delivering world-class education and training to produce extraordinary graduates.
Fostering strong partnerships between academia, industry, and government.
Committed to nurturing Ethiopia's future leaders in mineral exploration and processing.
Ensuring our work delivers tangible benefits to Ethiopian society and economic growth.
Vision of the CoE
- ✓ To be one of world-class CoE for mineral exploration, mining and processing.
- ✓ To position AASTU as a knowledge hub by enhancing sustainable research and development in mineral exploration, mining and processing.
- ✓ To be a center of excellence in the delivery of quality services in the fields of mineral exploration, mining and processing.
- ✓ To achieve optimal utilization of the country's mineral resource through scientific exploration, mining and processing practices and to promote geo-scientific research and development.
Mission of the CoE
- ✓ To engage in goal-oriented high-level teaching, training and researches.
- ✓ To establish research based MSc and PhD and other refreshment programs in the relevant discipline in accordance with the standard and requirements of AASTU.
- ✓ To promote inter-disciplinary cooperation among different colleges within AASTU.
- ✓ To strengthen collaboration and partnership with other universities, research establishments and industries to achieve its purpose.
- ✓ To develop the technical and technological capabilities for accurate and cost-effective mineral discovery, extraction and processing techniques.
Objectives of the CoE
The objectives of CoE are to strengthen and improve the productivity of the mineral sector through excellence in geo-scientific research and advance innovation for the development of the country. The specific objectives include:
- ▸ To provide facilities and infrastructures to facilitate advanced research works in mineral exploration, extraction and processing.
- ▸ To produce high caliber MSc and PhD holders with extraordinary technical knowledge and development capabilities.
- ▸ To provide technology-based innovations for the development of new technique to speed up the exploration and mining processes.
- ▸ To promote organizational innovation involving government, industries and academia.
- ▸ To give capacity building training on proper utilization of advanced technologies (laboratory equipment, materials, software and work process) to government and private institutions.
- ▸ To provide advanced treatment methods for mine waste and tailings.
- ▸ To have better knowledge of where the most promising mineral resources are located in the country to direct mineral exploration/mining or manage land use plans and infrastructure investment.
- ▸ To undertake or manage research and development studies to improve existing processes, or to apply existing processes.
- ▸ To organize national/international workshops, conferences and seminars to link universities, research centers and industries.
- ▸ To provide quality and cost-effective consultancy service in the field of mineral exploration, mining and processing to the public to contribute for sustainable economic growth and developments.
