The Uncertain Future of Abijata Lake
Addis Fortune, Ethiopia - November 12, 2007
Lake Abijata was once home to as many as 436 species of birds, including pelicans and flamingos, which used to flock in mass to and from the nearby wetlands in Shala National Park.
However, under pressure from industrial use, encroachment of farms and demand for drinking water, the wetlands are gone, and even the lake may be at risk of disappearing.
As Abijata Lake rapidly drys up, the birds, particularly the pelicans and flamingos, are shifting their migratory patterns, which stretch as far as Europe, to Langano and Ziway lakes. Some of the species formerly occupying the wetlands have been observed seeking sanctuary in man-made ponds in close proximity of Abijata Soda Ash Enterprise.
The formerly state-owned enterprise, now jointly managed by the National Mining Corporation (NMC) and the Privatisation and Public Enterprises Supervising Agency (PPESA), may be responsible for the desertification of the area, some 4.5Km away from Bulbula, a township on the way to Shashemene in the Oromia Regional State.
The Soda Ash Factory is situated close to the salty lake and uses the water source to extract trona, a material used for production of soda ash, which is found in the seabed or underneath huge volumes of water. This material is used to manufacture glass, ceramics and soap.
Abijata is the only salty lake in the country that is used for extracting trona. When Abijata is at peak level, 17 ponds could be filled by pumping Abijata to extract and process trona ...