The Mozambican government announced on Monday that the French company SGS has won the international tender to control the quantities, prices and specifications of minerals extracted and exported from Mozambique.

"The company will ensure that the specifications, prices and quantities of mining products are verified," said the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Amílcar Tivane, quoted by Lusa.

Tivane added that SGS is already on the ground in order to draw up an action plan and has signed a three-year contract with the Mozambican authorities, pending approval from the Administrative Court.

"SGS is a company with extensive experience and "international standing" in the sector," said the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance.

Amílcar Tivane defended the need for the monthly reports presented by companies in the mining sector to be in line with the rules for controlling quantities, specificities and prices.

The SGS intervention is part of the Mozambican government's commitment to remedy the shortcomings in the control of minerals extracted and exported from the African country, said Tivane.

"There is insufficient information in some reports," he said, noting that "Mozambique is rich in natural resources and should take greater advantage of this."