President Daniel Chapo assured on Thursday (2) that the government continues to work toward resuming operations at the Mozal smelter, expressing confidence that a solution will be found to reopen the country’s largest industrial facility.
“And we, as the government—what I can assure you is that we continue to work toward the resumption of operations at Mozal, and we are absolutely certain that we will find a solution,” said Daniel Chapo, responding to questions from journalists, according to Lusa.
The head of state did not provide a timeline for the resumption of production but reiterated that the government is maintaining contacts to find a solution that will allow the smelter—whose operations have been suspended since March—to resume operations. “One day, Mozal will resume operations,” emphasized the President of the Republic, noting that the recovery of the industrial facility remains a government priority.
Mozal, located in Maputo Province, is Mozambique’s largest industrial facility and one of Africa’s largest aluminum producers, playing a significant role in the national economy, exports, and employment. On June 15, Australia’s South32, Mozal’s majority shareholder, stated that it was evaluating “various options” for the future of the smelter, which has been in maintenance and conservation mode since March 15 due to the impasse over energy supply.
According to the company, any decision regarding the resumption of operations will depend on the availability of a “long-term, affordable, and sustainable” energy supply solution, a condition considered essential to ensuring the economic viability of the operation.
South32 CEO Graham Kerr previously stated that the proposed energy supply rate had made the operation “completely unsustainable,” adding that the company might reconsider resuming operations if supply conditions and costs were to change.
South32 confirmed on March 16 that Mozal, Mozambique’s largest industrial facility, has been in a maintenance and conservation mode since the previous day, expecting to spend 52.4 million euros on the suspension of smelter operations, including severance payments to workers.
Mozal Aluminium has been in a maintenance and conservation mode since March 2026, after South32 decided to suspend production because it was unable to secure a sufficient energy supply at competitive prices following the expiration of the supply contract.
At the time, the company explained that, despite several years of negotiations with the Mozambican government, Eskom, and other stakeholders, it had not been possible to secure conditions that would allow the smelter to remain in operation. The shutdown of the country’s largest industrial facility had a direct impact on employment and on supplier companies located in the Beluluane Industrial Park, while South32 acknowledged that it could resume operations if power supply conditions become viable.
