Around 100 companies are prospecting for minerals in Mozambique’s Tete province, said the provincial director for Mining Resources and Energy, Manuel José Sithole.

Noting that these figures demonstrate the province’s mining potential, Sithole said that gold, coal, precious gems and other minerals are already mined in the province.

The provincial director of Mining and Energy Resources said that Baobab Resources was at an advanced stage of prospecting for iron ore, the Mozambican subsidiary of Indian group Jindal Steel and Power has already started mining coal, Ncondezi Coal is concluding studies to start coal mining and Mineral Resources Mozambique is mining for goal.

In relation to iron ore, Sithole said it was too early to assess the province’s potential as prospecting is still underway.

Sithole noted that mining activities are having a positive impact on the province, particularly in terms of increasing available jobs and demand for goods and services to meet the needs of mining companies. (macauhub)