Vale, the world’s second largest mining company, has opened a new coal mine in Moatize, Mozambique.
Activities at the new coal mine in the Tete province have commenced ahead of operations at the processing plant, with production due to start in July.
The $1.658 billion mine will have a production capacity of 11 million tons per year of metallurgical and thermal coal, which will be transported 600 kilometres from Moatize via the Sena railway line to a coal terminal under construction at the Port of Beira in the Sofala province.
Operators of the mining equipment involved in the pre-operational activities is 90 per cent Mozambican, the company said. Over 7,500 people have been involved in the project since implementation works started in 2008.
The company said it has invested more than $90 million in social projects related to health, agriculture, infrastructure, sports and education in Mozambique. It has also relocated 1,300 families into fully equipped villages.
Vale will this year enter into an agreement between the Brazilian and Mozambican governments to develop an anti-retroviral drugs factory in Maputo.
