Maputo, 13 Feb (AIM) – Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Monday inaugurated in Maputo a Geology Laboratory budgeted at 190 million meticais (2.9 million dollars, at the current exchange rate).
The laboratory, which belongs to the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, was set up in response to the challenges facing the country, including improving quality standards, increasing revenue for the National Mining Institute (INAMI) and adapting to international standards.
The new laboratory also houses a Seismic Data Processing and Analysis Centre that allows real-time measurements to be made.
According to Nyusi, the new laboratory will increase knowledge and define standards that favor commercial transactions whose value reflects current market prices in a transparent manner, reinforced by the Regulations on Reference Prices for Determining the Value of Mining Products in Mozambique.
“The analyses that will be carried out in the new laboratory will define the necessary quality, classification of products and, in general, the valuation of mineral resources produced in the country, which should result in more objective inspection, thus bringing the necessary predictability to the relationship with private business”, the President said.
Nyusi declared that mining is of strategic importance for the country’s development, as one of the sources of export revenue, since it accounted for around 10.4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, in 2022.
“This was after contributing 9.8 per cent in 2021. This is remarkable growth, considering that the sector only contributed 1.8 per cent of GDP in 2011”, Nyusi added.
He pointed out that the new laboratory has equipment to provide services to mining companies and other public, private and educational institutions.
With the laboratory, the government is in a better position to monitor the evaluation and certification of the quality and quantity of minerals.
“It can easily monitor the circuit, from production to sale of these products, including carrying out chemical and technological analyses for their valuation. With the capacity created by setting up this laboratory, dependence on contracting services will be reduced, and revenue will be collected in favor of the National Mining Institute (INAMI), as a result of services provided both in Mozambique and to clients abroad”, the president said.
“This inspection should bring correct data to light, avoiding under-invoicing or pre-defined transfer prices in relations between companies in Mozambique and multinationals that process and sell products on the international market”, he explained.
(AIM)
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