Mozambique: Cabo Delgado ruby miner hands US$285.5 million to state since 2012 – report

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Mozambique: Cabo Delgado ruby miner hands US$285.5 million to state since 2012 – report

1:40 CAT | 05 Jun 2025

File photo: Lusa

Ruby mining at MRM’s mine in Cabo Delgado has yielded US$1.172 billion since 2012, of which e US$285.5 million has been handed over to the Mozambican state, according to data from Gemfields, which owns 75% of the company.

According to the “G Factor for Natural Resources” report, in 2024, Montepuez Rubi Mining (MRM) had a total revenue of US$117.2 million (€102.5 million).

The report aims to promote transparency on the level of natural resource wealth “shared with the host country’s government, whether that value originates from the mining, oil, gas, timber or fishing sectors”. The 2023 report identified total revenues from ruby exploitation in northern Mozambique at US$151.3 million (€132.4 million).

READ: Gemfields confirms G-Factor for Mozambique’s Montepuez ruby mine and Zambia’s Kagem emerald mine

Since Gemfields acquired 75% of MRM in February 2012, the year mining began, with ruby auctions starting two years later, the mine has earned over US$1.172 billion (€1.026 billion), and paid the Mozambican state US$285.5 million (€250 million) over the same period.

Last year, MRM paid the Mozambican state US$28.1 million (€24.6 million) in royalties and taxes – about half of 2023’s US$53.2 million (€46.6 million).

Montepuez Ruby Mining Limitada (MRM) is a Mozambican company that operates the Montepuez ruby mine, covering approximately 33,600 hectares.

The Montepuez ruby deposit is “believed to be the most significant recently discovered ruby deposit in the world,” says the company, which claims to have created more than 1,400 jobs locally.

MRM is 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% by Mwiriti Limitada, a Mozambican company.

The Montepuez ruby mine resumed operations in January of this year, after suspending work following social unrest in the area, as part of the protests that followed the general elections of October 9 in Mozambique.

According to the company, in the last week of 2024, “more than 200 people attempted to invade” the MRM village, destroying and setting fire to several structures. In this escalation of violence, the intervention of the police and military personnel who provide security at the site led to the death of two people at the site.

Some of the 500 people working in the area were then relocated to other locations from 26 December for safety reasons, two days after the mine was shut down.

MRM also previously confirmed that during the same period the nearby village of Wikupuri, built by the mining company, was attacked by alleged protesters, with looting and destruction.

Gemfields is a world leader in responsible mining and marketing of coloured gemstones and, in addition to MRM, is the operator and owner of 75% of the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia, touted as “the largest emerald mine in the world”, as well as bulk sampling licences in Ethiopia, among others.

According to the company, “Gemfields’ responsibly sourced gemstones, known for their quality and ethical mining practices, are favored by many luxury brands and designers for their creations”.

Source: Lusa