Operações da Kenmare em Moma, Nampula
Maputo, 13 Aug (AIM) – The Irish company Kenmare Resources has resumed its operations in Moma district, in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula, following an agreement reached with the Mozambican government.
Kenmare has been mining the heavy mineral sands in Moma and Larde districts since 2009, producing the titanium ores, such as Ilmenite, that are the raw materials used in paints, paper, and other products.
According to the government spokesperson, and Minister for State Administration, Inocêncio Impissa, who was speaking to reporters on Tuesday, in Maputo, the resumption of Kenmare’s work is important because it preserves people’s jobs and guarantees revenue for the State. He claimed the agreement “is favorable to both parties, workers and the company.”
Over the last year, during the post-election mass demonstrations, a large crowd invaded the Kenmare main camp in Larde District, demanding that the mining operations should provide benefits for the local communities. Community members accused the company of not complying with its longstanding promise to build a bridge linking the Topuito community (where the mine is located) to the Larde district capital.
Until last June, Kenmare was seeking to renew the Moma project concession, but faced challenges related to social responsibility.
“Regarding the negotiations with Kenmare, I must say that they have been concluded”, said Impissa. “I think the dispute is now over, both on our part and on Kenmare’s part. There is now an understanding”.
“Kenmare should already be working on the basis of the new agreement”, he added. But he did not mention when the new contract was signed.
Impissa explained that the suspension of operations was intended “to understand how the gains to which Mozambicans are entitled on the basis of the exploitation would be established, because what Kenmare had paid out over the years was far below what was reasonable.”
But now an agreement has been reached and approved. It is an agreement that does not penalize Mozambicans, but also does not penalize the operator”, he claimed.
(AIM)
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