The Mozambican government has launched an international auction for the sale of the entire fleet of boats belonging to Empresa Moçambicana de Atum (EMATUM), made up of 24 vessels, 21 of which are tuna vessels (longliners), used for tuna fishing, and three trawlers, used for fishing small pelagics that serve as bait for tuna..

The idea, according to the Mozambican state, is to recover at least 11 million dollars through this process.

A publication by Sunday newspaper says that the operation is being carried out by the company's main shareholder, the Mozambican state, through a liquidation commission, and could culminate in the collection of a minimum of 11 million dollars, if the boats are sold at the base bidding price which, however, may vary more or less depending on demand.

"The sale of these assets is part of the liquidation process of the company, whose main asset was precisely those 24 vessels which, for the most part, were never used for the purpose for which they were acquired, namely tuna fishing," says the same publication.

Of the 24 boats, nine had undergone adaptation work and were used for about two years for fishing, while the rest had not yet been "adapted" by the time the company's activities were suspended due to the discovery of the "hidden debts".

The hidden debt scandal dates back to 2013 and 2014, when the then Finance Minister, Manuel Chang, now in detention in the United States, approved state guarantees on loans from ProIndicus, Ematum and MAM to the banks Credit Suisse and VTB, without Parliament's consent.

(Photo DR)