Moz Natures - Sociedade Unipessoal, Limitada proposes to develop a gold and associated minerals mining project in Chiúta District, Tete Province. We are making available the Environmental Pre-feasibility and Scoping Study (EPDA), in its September 2026 public consultation version. The report describes the proposed development, its potential environmental and social impacts, and the topics requiring further investigation in the next stage of the environmental assessment.
About the project
According to the report, the development covers mining concession no. 9325C, located in the Cacote Cote area, within Manje Locality and Administrative Post. The project includes gold mining in primary rock and alluvial deposits, with site preparation, extraction, transport and ore processing, tailings management and environmental rehabilitation.
The study presents a planned investment of USD 795,000 and the creation of 33 direct jobs, excluding employees of contractors providing services. The estimated project life is 13 years, with annual gold production of approximately 12.83 kg, potentially reaching 28.51 kg per year at full operation. These figures are projections presented in the EPDA.
The role of the pre-feasibility study
The report states that the environmental authorities classified the project as Category A. The EPDA is a preliminary stage of the process: it identifies potential constraints to environmental and social viability, characterises the project area and defines the specialist studies to be carried out as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment.
At this stage, the study team concluded that no fatal flaws preventing the project from proceeding had been identified. This is a preliminary finding and does not constitute environmental approval. The document itself provides for more detailed studies and submission of the final report to the authorities for a licensing decision.
Main impacts to be assessed
The EPDA identifies potential effects during construction, operation and closure, including:
- Dust emissions, noise and vibration;
- Soil erosion, compaction and loss of fertility;
- Changes to natural drainage and water availability and quality;
- Risk of contamination from waste, effluent, oils and fuels;
- Reduced vegetation cover, habitat fragmentation and wildlife disturbance;
- Effects on cultivated land, natural resources and local economic activities;
- Risks to workers’ and communities’ health and safety.
Potential benefits identified in the document include job creation, increased household income and support for the local economy. The next assessment stage should examine these effects in greater detail and define measures to reduce adverse impacts and strengthen benefits.
Communities and public participation
The report highlights the need to identify potentially affected areas, households and economic activities in greater detail. It also notes the presence of artisanal mining in the area and recommends preparing a compensation and resettlement programme that accounts for people affected by the project.
The EPDA provides for public consultation meetings to present preliminary findings and gather questions, concerns and recommendations from communities, authorities and other interested and affected parties. According to the document, these contributions should be incorporated into the version submitted to the environmental authorities.
Environmental management and next steps
For the next stage, the study proposes programmes covering air quality, water resources, soils, waste, noise and vibration, as well as flora and fauna monitoring and biodiversity conservation. It also provides for health and safety, risk and emergency management, cultural heritage protection, restoration of degraded areas and mine rehabilitation.
The document also proposes a grievance mechanism. Measures, responsibilities and monitoring arrangements should be detailed in the Environmental Management Plan accompanying the final assessment report.
Read the document
The full report is available through the Open technical document button accompanying this publication or via the Moz Natures EPDA PDF. The original report is in Portuguese.
Source: Environmental Pre-feasibility and Scoping Study Report for the Moz Natures Gold and Associated Minerals Mining Project, prepared by Augusto Melo Fermino, public consultation version, September 2026. This summary draws on the non-technical summary (pp. 13–20), project description (pp. 66–85), public participation process (pp. 168–172) and conclusion (p. 184).