The President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, stated on Friday, January 30, that the new graphite processing factory is “an opportunity for Mozambique to consolidate itself in the global market as a supplier of processed minerals, where there is high demand for high-purity graphite,” Lusa reported.
“This factory represents a concrete opportunity for Mozambique to establish itself in the global supply of processed mineral products within our country, breaking away from the historical model of merely exporting raw materials,” Daniel Chapo declared while inaugurating the first graphite production and processing factory in the country.
Built in the Nipepe district, about 400 kilometers from the city of Lichinga, capital of Niassa province in northern Mozambique, the factory occupies an area of 2,469 hectares with Chinese capital, valued at around $200 million, with an annual graphite production and processing capacity of 200,000 tons.
The facility currently employs 1,090 workers and is expected to reach over 2,000 employees when operating at full production capacity, according to the company.
For Chapo, the inauguration of the factory is a clear indicator of the pursuit of economic sovereignty, with a focus on transforming potential into wealth for the population. “Today, Niassa province, Nipepe district, and Mozambique enter the industrial map of the world. More than inaugurating a production unit, we celebrate here the vision of a country that stops being merely a supplier of raw materials to foreign nations and begins to assert itself as a producer, processor, and exporter of added-value raw materials,” emphasized the President.
According to the Head of State, the establishment of this industrial unit aims to facilitate the processing of local ore to obtain “pure graphite of international quality” that meets global standards, based on productive efficiency, economic responsibility, and socio-economic impact, calling for local support for the factory.
“By investing in local processing, Mozambique strategically positions itself in the global context of growing demand for high-purity graphite, essential in future-oriented sectors such as energy storage for batteries, electric and electronic mobility, and other advanced technological applications worldwide,” he added.
The President also stressed that the exploration and processing of resources must respect local communities, including their habits and cultures, preserving human dignity and ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of mining benefits, aiming for sustainable community development. He praised the construction of 125 improved houses for resettlement, as well as a local market, a health center, and a police station.
“Mozambique wants responsible, transparent investment committed to protecting life, nature, workers, and the dignity of local communities,” Chapo said, promising deep reforms in the energy and mineral resources sector.
In the same statements, he expressed concern about irregularities in mining activities in Niassa province, promising efforts similar to those applied in Manica, in central Mozambique, with the suspension of operations. “We are disciplining mining licensing, keeping the mining registry closed to ensure compliance with technical and fiscal obligations and to eliminate unproductive areas that harm national interests. We are concerned about Niassa province, specifically in the Lupilichi area, where gold is found and the same disorganization occurs,” he warned, calling for a more organized and transparent mining sector.
Source: Diário Económico
