Mozambican government seeks investor to mine phosphates in Evate, Monapo

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Mozambican government seeks investor to mine phosphates in Evate, Monapo

1:23 CAT | 07 Dec 2017

Macauhub (File photo)

The Mozambican government is looking for a potential investor with the financial capacity to exploit phosphates in Evate, Monapo district, in the northern Nampula province.

According to the director of the Monapo Economic Activities Department, Mendes Tomo, some investors from Brazil and Malawi have already shown an interest in exploring the phosphates, but negotiations failed due to the lack of a market and the capacity to implement a mining project of that size.

Monapo’s phosphate deposits are the only ones on a national scale.

Cited in today’s Notícias, Tomo says that research to assess the amount of ore in the area has already been completed, including technical activities and laboratory tests, pre-feasibility studies, environmental licensing and public consultations.

Studies have found there are huge quantities of this high-value ore in the area, but even though project studies have been completed, the exploitation of phosphate had not yet begun, because a large investor interested in and capable of matching the size of the exploration project had not been found.

According to the newspaper, any successful Evate phosphate project would have to have installed capacity for the production of 42 million tons. It is estimated that, during full exploitation, a phosphate mine would create over 800 permanent jobs and would require an estimated investment of US$3 billion.

Source: AIM Moçambique