The Indonesian private sector wants to participate in the local research, exploration and processing of strategic minerals in Mozambique, adding value to them before they are placed on the international market.

The information was shared on Wednesday (04) by the National Director of Geology and Mining, Luísa Maocha, on the way out of one of the sessions that marked the last day of the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum, held in Bali, where the country was represented by a delegation headed by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Carlos Zacarias.

Quoted by NewsMahocha noted that the Indonesians are most interested in minerals such as graphite; heavy sands, especially ilmenite, zircon and rutile; copper; nickel; lithium, coal and rare earths, not least because they intend to visit Mozambique to get a closer look at the dynamics and potential of this sector.

She stressed that "in order to achieve this goal, a draft memorandum is being drawn up which should serve as a basis for developing cooperation projects in this sector".

Mozambique is also interested in cooperating with Indonesia in researching minerals, improving the value chain, including those that are currently being produced and exported.

Further on, the National Director of Geology and Mining explained that there was, however, a need to revise some of the sector's regulations and create a strategy for critical minerals, in addition to establishing a corporate arm of the state to provide greater security for investors.

"One of the challenges is knowing what the country really has underground, which involves compiling data and making it available to potential investors. We have a mining information system with geological data and maps of the sites where the mapping has been completed, but the existing information is not enough, covering only a third of the country. So these meetings can help us find partners," he added.

(Photo DR)