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Moz rail, port project stimulated by heavy mineral sands development

14th September 2018

By: Rebecca Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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The Mozambique daily newspaper Notícias has reported that the proposed Chongoene Logistics Corridor project, which would benefit the heavy mineral sands project at Chibuto, in the country’s Gaza province, is now being investigated by a partnership that includes China Railways International Group. The daily further reported that the project would require an investment of some $3-billion. The newspaper cited Muyaque District Council president Leonardo Simão as its source. He was in Beijing, participating in the China-Mozambique Business Forum, when he talked to the journal.

The Chongoene project, as currently proposed, would include the building of a port for coastal shipping (cabotage) near the town of Chongoene (which lies only a few kilometres from the sea) and constructing a railway line from there to Macarretane, where it would link with the main railway line between Maputo and Zimbabwe (known as the Limpopo line, or Corridor).

It would also involve the construction of a rail line to Chibuto to service the heavy mineral sands project being developed there. In fact, the development of Chibuto, and other heavy minerals sands projects in the region, is seen as key to ensuring the viability of the Chongoene Logistics Corridor. In turn, the corridor would enable the development of economically viable agricultural, livestock and forestry projects in the region.

Following the preliminary evaluation of the project, the partners are currently discussing how to move forward with detailed studies to definitively determine the costs, the time required for construction and the return on investment. Once these studies are concluded, Simão reported, they would be submitted to the Mozambique government for a final decision.

T

he Chibuto heavy minerals sands project is being developed by Chinese group Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group. According to AIM (the Mozambique News Agency), the total cost of the project to the company has been estimated at $1-billion. Anhui’s concession covers 10 544 ha and is reported to contain reserves of 108-million tons of ilmenite (a titanium-iron oxide), which would give a life-of-mine of between 70 and 100 years. Currently, the group plans to build a 70 km railway line from its mine site to Chokwe, which is also on the Limpopo line. The miner is also planning to build a dedicated terminal at the Maputo port.

A ‘test’ plant has already been run at the project site, processing 1 000 t of ore a day. This test programme was due to be completed during June, so it is not clear if the test plant is still operational. Anhui is also planning a new power plant at Massingir, with a transmission line to the mine and an air strip at Chibuto. When in full operation, the complete project should employ some 3 000 Mozambicans. On the social side, the Chinese group has built a water treatment station, and is building a zinc roofing sheets factory, a hotel and a supermarket. The project requires the resettlement of some 1 500 households and Anhui has been building new houses for these families.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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