Yesterday, in Ponta D'Ouro, Maputo province, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Estêvão Pale, defended the application of new measures on the exploitation of mineral and energy resources in Mozambique so that greater profit can be made from these activities.

In the Executive's view, we must move towards making the sector's activities more transparent, while at the same time fighting corruption, leading to efficient management for the benefit of the population.

"Initially the country was in a phase of foreign investment. Now there is no doubt for any Mozambican that Mozambique has resources of a global nature. Therefore, the time has come to impose rules on their use, so that there is greater benefit for the country, Mozambicans and their respective communities," said the Minister.

According to Pale, this path must include a review of the legislative package in order to position the country as a world reference in the sector.

He says there are still investors interested in exploring resources in the country, and in order to allow the projects to go ahead, he is considering freeing up idle land with high potential in terms of mineral and energy resources.

"Our position is to see whether we actually release these areas or that the current holders of the areas start working so that they can generate investment and opportunities and revenue for the country," he said.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the start of the review and modernization of the legal framework in the areas of mining, oil and gas and energy.