Mozambique: Exports from Moma mine increased by 4% in 2024
Mozambique: Chibuto heavy sands exports via Chongoene port delayed to February 2025
2:38 CAT | 16 Dec 2024
Photo: O País
- The delay in the completion of the Chongoene post has compromised the flow of 270,000 tons of minerals processed from the Chibuto heavy sands.
- The government says that problems on the ground forced the readjustment of delivery deadlines to February, 2025.
At least two of the heavy sand processing units in Chibuto have been operating since the end of December, 2022. “[By these means], production was above 270,000 tons. However, the export volume was lower, providing an annual income of 17 million meticais for the state coffers,” said Jerónimo Mutisse, spokesperson for the provincial infrastructure service.
More than 270,000 tonnes of ilmenite and zircon are currently “retained” in Chibuto, as a result of the high costs of road transport to the port of Maputo, from where they are customarily sent to the Asian market.
“Recently, Dingsheng officials told us that around 270,000 tonnes of zircon and ilmenite, produced in the Chibuto Heavy Sands, are awaiting export. Without specifying how long the production has been stored for, they report difficulties due to the high costs of road transport to the Port of Maputo,” Mutisse explained.
This situation will be addressed by the start of operations at Chongoene port. The last phase of construction should have been completed in August of this year, but this did not happen, and the government has now set December as the deadline. Work on the ground is 80% complete.
Administrator of Chongoene district, Artur Macamo, clarifies that the delay is due to problems on the ground, which forced the operation deadline to be readjusted “to February, 2025”.
READ: Mozambique: Chibuto heavy sands extraction halted – Notícias
Chongoene port, budgeted at 20 billion meticais, will export 8 million tons of heavy sand per year.
Source: O País
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