Oil discovery scares coastal communities in Mozambique

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Oil discovery scares coastal communities in Mozambique

12:27 CAT | 12 Apr 2017

AFP (File photo) / Coastal communities fear that oil discoveries will affect fishing.

The discovery of oil reserves in the coastal districts of Memba and Angoche in the Mozambican province of Nampula is creating apprehension in communities, with many fearing that exploitation will affect fishing and cost them their livelihood.

Malaysian company Petronas is to explore the area between Pemba and Memba, but, based on past experience, communities fear that companies licensed to exploit the resource may not meet their social responsibility requirements.

There are also protests about resource discoveries being kept secret by the authorities.

António Lagares, from Solidariedade Moçambique, denounces the lack of transparency around extractive industry investment projects in Nampula, saying the process betrays the strong influence of the political elite around the oil discoveries in Angoche and excludes the population in general,

Augusto Cumbana, provincial chief inspector of mineral and energy resources in Nampula, said that oil research in Angoche has not yet started, and only preliminary studies had been carried out. A consulting team had travelled to the Angoche district to gather information on the presence of oil, he said.

Source: Voa Portugues