Mozambique: H1 total gold production 543 kg

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Mozambique: H1 total gold production 543 kg

3:17 CAT | 27 Jul 2022

File photo: Notícias

Mozambique produced more than 543 kg of gold in the first half of the year, against the 815 kg projected for the whole year. These production figures represent an increase occasioned by improved screening and control of production recently implemented in the country.

Mozambique has recorded a considerable increase in gold production in the last three years. In 2019, more than 429 kg of gold were produced, against 400 kg that were forecast.

The following year, the country expected to produce 430 kg, but production reached 487.9 kg. In 2021, the increase in gold production was once again significant: against a target of 550 kg, 764.5 kg was produced.

In 2022, the increase could be even more significant, according to officials, who expect to produce 815 kg of gold this year. Indeed, total production could reach one ton this year, since in the first half it reached at least 543.7 kg.

“We have increased control capacity in the screening that the Kimberley Process Management Unit carries out to establish how much the mine produces and to whom it has sold, thus reducing smuggling,” explains Castro Elias, executive director of the Kimberley Process Management Unit. “Up until last year, we only had two companies exporting gold, but, because of screening and tracking performed at the base of the production chain, producers now pay taxes and must show how much they produced and to whom they sold it.”

In the first quarter of the year, screening uncovered around 20 kg of undeclared gold, along with four kg of black tourmaline, 271 grams of Class A tourmaline, nearly to 70 grams of garnet and 12.7 grams of tourmaline refuse.

Two more exporters joined the sector In the first quarter, and negotiations are taking place regarding a further three.

The government’s plans to “create ease, so that everyone will be able to export legally, because when they do, they increase foreign exchange. This is the reason why, last year, we revised decree 25/2015 that resulted in decree 63/2021 of 1 September. We removed administrative barriers to [export] licensing. We concluded that there were requirements that didn’t make sense which were delaying the issuing of licences,” Elias explained.

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In November of last year, the country was admitted to the Kimberly process, gaining authorization to export diamonds. However, it is not yet known when the first stones of this type will be extracted, as surveys are still ongoing.

“A company went into the field after the rainy season to conduct research and is now carrying out a feasibility study. There are 80 applications for research prospecting licences in progress at the National Institute of Mines to obtain licences, and we have 17 licences in force,” the executive director explained.

Without specifying exact dates, Elias said that Mozambique would by the end of the year open, in addition to Maputo, two more trading posts for exports, one in Manica province and another in Nampula.

Source: O País