The Brazilian mining company Vale reacted today to the complaints of the Bar Association of Mozambique and the Association of Human Rights Network, which warned of alleged "injustices and abuses" in the resettlement process of families affected by the company's activity.

According to the mining company, duties were respected in the relocation of the populations that lived in the vicinity of the Moatize mine. These are at least 760 families who lived in the area covered by Vale's activities in Moatize, in the central province of Tete.

"The company reinforces that it has complied to the fullest extent with the approved resettlement plan and other inherent duties, as well as with all elements subsequently agreed with the Government and with the communities covered related to different matters of the social sphere," says a statement of reaction from Vale, sent to Lusa today.

According to the two entities, in August 2010, the families were relocated to a new neighborhood without decent housing conditions, 40 kilometers from Moatize, and the compensation to which they are entitled has not been paid in full.

"The behavior of this mining company has created psychological and emotional trauma in the affected families, in addition to the fact that they have lost their means of support and are subject to a situation of worsening their state of impoverishment," indicates a note released on Monday by the Mozambique Bar Association, which is demanding that Vale pay one billion meticais in compensation to the families, in a case that has been running in the Administrative Court since 2020.

However, in the note of reaction sent today to Lusa, the Brazilian mining company prefers not to comment on the demand of the Bar Association of Mozambique "because it deals with matters under discussion in the competent courts," but reiterates that it complies with the "duties imposed by law and the mining contract signed with the Government.

In December, Vale announced that it had sold its operation in Mozambique to Vulcan Minerals for $270 million, consummating the elimination of coal assets and consequent exit from the African country.

The conclusion of the deal is subject to approval by the Mozambican government, and Vale assures that it is "committed to working together with the governments of Mozambique and Malawi to ensure a smooth transition to the new operator.