African Mining | Page 17

COUNTRY IN FOCUS •

There is however a dark side to the mineral riches of Cabo Delgado . During the period 2010-2020 there were several accusations made against the major mining operations involving human rights abuses and violations . In 2021 the province was also rocked by the violent capture of several key cities and regions in Cabo Delgado by followers of the Islamic State . This resulted in a number of Southern African countries deploying military intervention to secure the area . These operations have had various degrees of success , with some regions still not having been recaptured with foreign military presence in the area . It was also reported that the private military company , the Russian based Wagner Group , has also been active in military operations .

In order to evaluate the extent of artisanal mining , a census was scheduled to take place of all Mozambiquan artisanal mine operations , between 11th October and 9th November 2021 . The limitation however is that no foreign artisanal miners were considered during this census , but foreign miners comprise the majority of operations in the region . An effort was also launched to increase safety in the artisanal mining operations , as several dozen artisanal miners die every year in the region due to pit wall failures or tunnel collapses .

Timber from Cabo Delgado ’ s forests is one of Mozambique ’ s major exports , with more than 90 per cent of Mozambique ’ s wood shipped to China . A large percentage of the timber is however illegally logged , and the insurgent unrest has fuelled the illegal logging trade even further .

Realising and restoring the full mining potential of Cabo Delgado , the treasure trove of Mozambique , will require the stabilisation of the region politically and a decisive victory over the insurgents in the region . The abundant mineral wealth of this province has ensured that international companies have retained their presence in the province , regardless of the violence and plan to proceed with operations . It is reasonable to suggest that Cabo Delgado will yield more mineral discoveries in the coming years and contribute significantly to the economy of Mozambique . •

About the author : Dr Nicolaas C Steenkamp is an independent consultant , specialising in geological , geotechnical and geometallurgical projects and mining project management . He has over two decades of industry experience with global exposure . ncs . contract @ gmail . com

Realising and restoring the full mining potential of Cabo Delgado , the treasure trove of Mozambique , will require the stabilisation of the region .