TradeMark Southern Africa

Maputo:  Chinese companies have asked Mozambique’s Ministry for Mining Resources for licenses to prospect and survey for limestone and clay, raw materials that are essential for cement production, Macauhub has learned from a ministry source. Macauhub learned in Maputo that the companies that had made requests for licenses were the Africa Great Wall Cement Manufacturer and China - Mozambique Cement & Development Company.

China - Mozambique Cement & Development Company asked the Ministry for Mining Resources for a license to prospect and survey for limestone in the district of Buzi, Sofala province, whilst Africa Great Wall Cement Manufacturer, plans to prospect and survey for white clay in the Magude district of Maputo province.

In its turn, Sogecoa Moçambique has asked for licenses to prospect and survey for gold in the districts of Chifunde and Gorongoza, in the provinces of Tete and Sofala respectively.

Chinese companies are investing many millions of dollars in the districts of Magude and Matutuine, in Maputo province.

The China International Fund and SPI set up CIF-Moz, which carries out prospecting and surveying for clay and iron, and has concluded that conditions are suitable to set up a cement factory in the Matutuine district, an investment of 1.25 billion meticals (US$35 million).