Montepuez Ruby Mining

Montepuez Ruby Mining is a ruby mining company operating in the Montepuez district of Cabo Delgado province, in northern Mozambique. It holds one of the largest known ruby deposits in the world, covering an extensive licence area rich in corundum-bearing gravels. The company is majority owned by Gemfields, the London-listed coloured gemstone miner, with the remainder held by Mozambican partners. Its operations combine open-pit mining with sorting and grading facilities to prepare rough rubies for sale through Gemfields' international auctions. Production from the mine has positioned Mozambique as a leading global source of high-quality rubies, complementing Gemfields' emerald output from Zambia's Kagem Mining. The venture has faced periodic security and community-relations challenges typical of remote mining operations in Cabo Delgado. Revenue from the mine is closely tied to global demand for coloured gemstones and auction pricing cycles. Montepuez Ruby Mining contributes to local employment and infrastructure development in the surrounding region. The mine began commercial ruby production in the early 2010s, quickly establishing itself as a significant contributor to Gemfields' overall revenue. It remains central to discussions of responsible sourcing and beneficiation within Africa's gemstone sector.