Mining has gained significant importance in Mozambique in recent years. Its contribution to gross domestic product increased from 1.8% in 2011 to 12.2% in 2024, making it the country’s second most important economic sector after agriculture. Major mineral deposits are located primarily in the provinces of Manica, Tete, Zambézia, Nampula, and Cabo Delgado. Some of these minerals are considered strategically important from the EU’s perspective.
The sector is characterised by modern large-scale operations run by international companies as well as widespread small-scale mining. The latter provides income for around 230,000 people, nearly 12% of whom are women. Including suppliers and related businesses, almost 800,000 people depend directly or indirectly on small-scale mining for their livelihoods.
Despite challenging framework conditions, the Chamber of Mines has significantly strengthened its position vis-à-vis government actors and regulatory authorities. It is increasingly recognized as the legitimate representative of the mining industry and is actively involved in political dialogue processes.
Training programs on occupational safety and sustainable mining practices in mining regions have been particularly successful, and demand for them remains high. In the planned second project phase, sustainability issues will receive even greater attention. This is due to considerable environmental damage caused by some actors, which has negatively affected the reputation of the entire sector. At the same time, business partnerships between Mozambican and German/European companies are to be actively promoted, as Mozambique is of strategic interest to Germany and the EU because of its wide range of valuable mineral resources.
The KVP is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as part of the Partners in Transformation programme.
