Mozambique: Mining inspections must be “systematic and continual” – AIM report

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Mozambique: Mining inspections must be “systematic and continual” – AIM report

8:53 CAT | 30 Nov 2020

File photo: DW

The General Inspector of the Mozambican Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, Obete Matine, on Wednesday urged staff in his sector to step up the work of inspection and monitoring in order to end illegal mining, the traffic of minerals and contraband in fuel.

“Inspections should be systematic and continual, and not sporadic, if they are to guarantee legality, transparency and the rational use of mineral resources, while respecting the environment and local communities”, said Matine in Maputo, at the opening of a meeting of the National Council of inspectors of mineral resources and energy.

He noted that sometimes major accidents occur in the mining industry. The risks involved in mining mean that attention must be paid to safety measures, and to empowering a rescue system.

“Inspectors are called upon to guarantee that mining operations are safe, with a target of zero accidents”, Matine said. “Good practices must be followed to reduce environmental damage and all other negative impacts”.

He encouraged the inspectors to prevent conflicts and mitigate the damage resulting from artisanal and small scale mining.

“Next year we want to produce our first report on safety in open cast and underground mining operations”, said Matine. That would involve a dialogue on implementing the National Rescue System, and certifying technical safety systems in the mines.

Matine challenged the inspectors to take a leadership role in the fight against corruption and to step up internal audits in the bodies subordinate to the Ministry of Mineral Resources.

Inspection, he added, must also involve monitoring the sustainable and rational exploitation of the extractive industry and of energy infrastructures, through vigorous actions to fight against contraband and trafficking in minerals, in order to guarantee that gains from the extractive industry drive the social and economic development of the country.

Source: AIM