Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) has reopened its main mining operations in Namanhumbir, Montepuez district, Cabo Delgado province.
The decision follows a suspension of all but critical operations since April 22, 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Recently, a team from the Cabo Delgado Provincial Health Directorate assessed the set of measures carried out by MRM in the concession to mitigate the Covid-19 contagion, and the company heeded all recommendations issued by health authorities to minimize the risk of contagion.
“In accordance with all deliberations issued by the health team, MRM management planned a phased restart of operations. On February 22, preparations began to ensure that everything is ready for a smooth return of employees,” Harald Hälbich, MRM’s managing director, said in a press release.
With the reopening of operations, the suspension of labor contracts will also be gradually lifted with employees being notified of reinstatement to their jobs.
Despite the prolonged suspension of operations, MRM managed to avoid layoffs and stay afloat thanks to the financial support provided by majority shareholder “Gemfields Limited,” which owns 75 percent of MRM, in partnership with Mwiriti, a Mozambican company, which owns 25 percent.
Despite the ongoing challenges faced as a result of the pandemic, according to the statement, MRM remains committed to ensuring strong production and successful auctions in the 2021 financial year, maintaining employment to the workforce, and guaranteeing its fiscal contributions to the Mozambican state.
MRM is a Mozambican company operating in the Montepuez ruby deposit in Cabo Delgado province, where it covers about 33,600 hectares. It is believed to be the most recently discovered ruby deposit in the world.
Gemfields is the world’s leading supplier of responsibly sourced colored gems. In addition to MRM, Gemfields is the operator and owner of 75% of the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia (believed to be the largest emerald producing mine in the world) and holds bulk sampling licenses in Ethiopia, among others.
