Yau Ming Corporations, SA proposes to develop a gold mining project in Mpanga, Macanga District, Tete Province. The Environmental Pre-feasibility and Scoping Study (EPDA) is available in its November 2026 draft for public consultation. The report describes the proposed development, provides a preliminary characterisation of the project area and identifies topics requiring further environmental assessment.
About the project
The development covers mining concession no. 12913C, near the community of Mpanga, in Namadende Locality, Furancungo Administrative Post. The technical description includes primary rock and alluvial mining, site preparation, topsoil removal and conservation, extraction, ore transport and processing, tailings management and rehabilitation of disturbed areas.
According to the study, the planned investment is USD 4,295,520, with an estimated 25 direct jobs. The projected operating life is 25 years, with estimated annual production of 187.2 kg of gold. These figures are projections presented in the EPDA.
The role of the scoping study
The report states that the environmental authorities classified the project as Category A. At this stage, the study identifies environmental and social constraints and defines the scope of specialist studies to be undertaken in the next assessment stage.
The study team concluded that no fatal flaws preventing the project from proceeding had been identified at this stage. This is a preliminary finding. The EPDA does not constitute an environmental licence; more detailed studies and submission of the final report to the authorities for a licensing decision are still envisaged.
Potential environmental and social impacts
The report identifies effects to be assessed during construction, operation and closure, including:
- Dust emissions, noise and vibration;
- Soil erosion, compaction and loss of fertility;
- Changes to drainage and risks to water availability and quality;
- Waste generation and contamination risks from oils and fuels;
- Loss of vegetation cover and disturbance to habitats and wildlife;
- Effects on agricultural land, natural resources and local economic activities;
- Risks to workers’ and communities’ health and safety.
Potential benefits include job creation, increased household income, skills transfer and support for the local economy. The next assessment stage should examine these effects in detail and establish prevention, mitigation and monitoring measures.
Communities and public participation
The EPDA notes the presence of agricultural land, temporary settlements associated with cultivation, fruit trees and artisanal mining within the concession. It recommends identifying directly affected areas, households and activities in detail and preparing a compensation and resettlement programme covering affected people.
The document provides for an initial public consultation meeting before the EPDA is submitted to the environmental authorities. The meeting is intended to present preliminary findings and gather questions, concerns and suggestions from interested and affected parties. Contributions should be incorporated into the version submitted. The report does not specify a date for this meeting.
Environmental management and next steps
Proposed programmes for the next stage cover air quality, water resources, soils, noise and vibration, waste, wildlife, vegetation and biodiversity. The study also provides for health and safety, risk and emergency management, environmental education, cultural heritage protection, restoration of degraded areas and mine rehabilitation.
A grievance mechanism is also proposed. Measures, responsibilities and monitoring procedures 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 or via the Yau Ming Corporations, SA EPDA PDF. The original report is in Portuguese.
Source: Environmental Pre-feasibility and Scoping Study Report for the Gold Mining Project in Mpanga, Macanga District, Tete Province — Yau Ming Corporations, SA, prepared by Augusto Melo Fermino, draft for public consultation, November 2026. This summary draws on the non-technical summary (pp. 12–20), project description (pp. 67–85) and conclusion (p. 177).