Maputo, Dec. 12, 2025 (Lusa) - The Kingdom of the Netherlands has made a total of €25 million available to repair rivers affected by illegal mining in the province of Manica, central Mozambique, the government announced on Friday.
"The Kingdom of the Netherlands is providing €25 million (...) to support the restoration of rivers affected by illegal mining in Manica province," according to a statement released today by the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources of Mozambique on its Facebook page.
According to the Mozambican Ministry of Public Works, the amount is being made available to the Regional Water Administration of Central Mozambique (ARA-Centro) through the “Moz Water” programme.
According to ARA-Centro, the project, funded by the Netherlands, aims to strengthen integrated water resource management in Mozambique by promoting institutions that are "more inclusive, resilient and aligned with international best practices".
The Mozambican government announced on Wednesday that mining companies have 90 days to replenish and stabilise soils, as well as restore river flows affected by mining, to halt erosion and landslides during the rainy season.
The minister for mineral resources and Energy, Estêvão Pale, recalled that the Government is moving forward with measures to halt environmental degradation due to mining, especially in Manica province, where mining activity has been suspended, and in Tete, where a multisectoral commission is assessing non-compliance with environmental plans.
According to Estêvão Pale, specifically in Manica province, the government, through the Environmental Quality Control Agency, "notified in the proceedings" on 28th October "25 mining companies to begin the process of rehabilitating the areas and restoring the degraded soils resulting from their mining activities".
Mozambican president Daniel Chapo said on 17th September that mining is causing an "environmental disaster" in the region, suggesting the total suspension of activity.
The suspension of mining licences in Manica comes after the executive reviewed the report of the operational command of the defence and security forces (FDS) that worked in that province between 17th and 19th July to assess the environmental situation in relation to mining.
The commission found "uncontrolled mining" by licensed operators, with companies operating without an environmental recovery plan and waste containment systems, as well as violations of workers' rights.
The executive then classified the environmental situation in Manica as critical, pointing to the "severe pollution" of rivers that have "reddish, cloudy and opaque water" as a result of direct ore washing and the dumping of waste from this activity without any treatment.
In view of this scenario, the Government has set up an interministerial commission, which includes the Ministries of Defence, Mineral Resources and Energy, the Interior, Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Finance, Economy, Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, Health, Justice and Labour, Gender and Social Action.
VIYS/AYLS) // AYLS
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