Maputo, 23 Sep (AIM) – The Mozambican Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Estevão Pale, has announced that 1,858 mining licenses were issued in the first half of this year.
According to the minister, who was speaking on Monday at meeting of the Coordinating Council of his Ministry in Maputo, the country raised 301.3 million meticais (4.7 million US dollars at the current exchange rate) from tax debt recovery in the mining sector.
“The mining sector made significant progress by issuing 1,858 mining licenses, addressing 69 per cent of the pending applications from 2024, thereby reducing the backlog in the licensing system and restoring confidence in the process”, he said.
He also revealed that, in coordination with the country’s Tax Authority (AT), 301.3 million meticais was recovered through tax debt collection.
“A further 223.4 million meticais in enforceable bonds were identified, which will be reverted to the State to support the rehabilitation and closure of abandoned mines”, he said.
Pale also announced that the government has been outlining the measures that must be implemented against environmental pollution as a result of mining, following contamination of rivers in the central province of Manica.
Recently, the authorities decided to temporarily suspend mining following denunciations from the local population, who have been complaining about environmental pollution, notably contamination of the rivers caused by artisanal mining. The pollution is affecting, for example, important sources of drinking water such as the Revue river and the Chicamba reservoir, causing serious public health problems.
According to the minister, measures are underway to prevent similar situations in the coming years, although the authorities have not yet ascertained the amount of damage caused by river pollution.
“What we are doing is introducing corrective measures with all sectors involved”, said Pale. “Environmental issues are not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Mineral Resources. We need actions that may influence behavioral change”.
Pale believes that coordinated work between mining companies and local communities is crucial and necessary to avoid further cases of environmental pollution.
He also revealed that the companies responsible for pollution have been identified and “measures have been taken to address these anomalies. This process is ongoing throughout the country.”
However, the minister did not mention the names of the companies that are responsible for environmental crimes.
(AIM)
Ad/pf (392)
