Ethiopia has small but useable resources and reserves of mineral resources, including Gold, Platinum and Copper and reserves of natural gas. The development of it's oil, gas and mineral resources hasn't been a good, key driver for the progress of the countries economic growth. But if they find a way to produce these efficiently, the economy could grow and the development of the country could increase.
Only one scale-gold mine really exists, and plans do exist to develop more mines, and help exploit potential of oil and natural gas reserves, which helps exploit the potential of oil and natural gas reserves. The industry, although it is only in it's early stages, mining already contributes to the countries exports, in 2012, more than 19% of the total value of exports was from the mining sector, mainly from gold. The industry needs to be developed and managed sustainably to have a positive impact on the economic and social development of Ethiopia.
Some natural resources are utilized by other countries, which although it provides a lot of employment and jobs for people, the money that is produced doesn't contribute to the country's economy at all.