The government, through the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME), and its partners have said that the conditions are in place for the Conference on Adding Value to Mineral and Energy Resources (COVAME-d), to be held from 19 to 24 October in Nacala-Porto, Nampula province, to promote value addition and the processing of the country’s available mineral and energy resources.
The national director of Geology and Mines, Laura Maoche, said in Maputo that the COVAME-d conference would promote investment, business opportunities and commercial activity in the mineral resources sector.
“From 19 to 24 October, we will bring a week dedicated to adding value to natural resources to Nacala-Porto,” she said.
According to Maoche, MIREME has prepared several investment packages, including industrial minerals, quartz sands and clay, as well as other resources for which the percentage of local processing is determined by mining and petroleum legislation.
The conference also aims to promote business opportunities for national companies, foreign investors and other stakeholders in the sector.
Maoche explained that the programme would culminate in three main events, including a session dedicated to oil and gas logistics, scheduled for 23 October.
Mozambique produces gas and oil in the provinces of Cabo Delgado and Inhambane. In this context, MIREME intends to promote the development of logistics associated with these resources, in coordination with airports, civil aviation and other partners.
For his part, the executive secretary of the Kimberley Process Management Unit (UGPK), Castro Elias, said COVAME-d aims to present not only investment opportunities but also minerals available for processing in the country.
“We are participating in this conference with minerals available for processing, in response to the guidance of the President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo,” he said.
Elias noted that the recently approved mining and petroleum legislation establishes the percentages of resources that must be processed in Mozambique.
“We decided to hold this conference to present the available minerals because, if we do not make them available to those who can process them, companies will continue to export the raw materials in their unprocessed state,” he explained.
As part of COVAME-d, memoranda of understanding are also expected to be signed with companies interested in developing mineral resource processing projects in the country.
MIREME has also restricted the authorisation of exports of certain minerals, particularly graphite and other resources considered priorities for local processing.
The investment packages to be presented at the conference include graphite, limestone, heavy mineral sands and coal.
“The aim is to say that we have this quantity and that, with this quantity, it is possible to establish processing operations,” Elias said.
MIREME has already identified areas for the establishment of industrial facilities and has information on the respective DUATs (land-use and benefit rights), the availability of water and electricity, access roads, and the distances between processing centres and extraction zones.
After the investment packages have been presented, interested companies will be able to express their intention to participate in the projects.
According to Elias, if more than one company expresses interest in a particular package, a competitive process may be held, taking into account criteria such as the investment timeframe, the number of jobs to be created, the value of the investment and other relevant factors.
Meanwhile, the director of the National Geology Museum, Danta Marizane, said the Annual Gem Fair (FAGENA), an event promoting geological and mineral resources and geosciences, has been held in Mozambique for around 10 years.
He argued that mineral resources produced in the country should be processed locally in order to increase the benefits to the national economy.
Marizane added that FAGENA has already gained an international dimension and contributes to creating economic opportunities for many families.
“Now, with COVAME-d, we will go much further, as it is a presidential initiative,” he said.
Source: AIM Moçambique