RESIDENTS BLOCK MOVEMENT OF TRUCKS IN SANGAGE

Residents in Murrua in Angoche, in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula, are obstructing trucks belonging to the Haiyu Mozambique Mining Company.Tree trunks and other barricades have been placed in the road to stop the trucks moving between the Chinese company’s heavy mineral sands project in Sangage and the port.Residents are protesting against what they consider to be the company’s failure to implement promised corporate social responsibility programmes.However, a spokesperson for the Nampula Provincial Directorate of Mineral Resources told the daily newspaper “Noticias” that there was no truth in the allegations. Fila Lazaro told the paper that there has been no violation in the memorandum of understanding between the company and the government over corporate social responsibility.Lazaro stressed that the mining company has regularly disbursed funds to finance income generating projects, institutional support and government initiatives. Since the memorandum was signed, one and a half million US dollars has been disbursed.Among the projects supported are the purchase of an ambulance for the rural hospital, the rehabilitation of the local mortuary and the restoration of a significant part of the hospital. In addition, residents have received funds for income generating schemes.The company has also recently allocated 27 million meticais (about 875,000 dollars) for the construction of an electricity line linking Sangage with the national grid.In June it was reported that work to rehabilitate the rural hospital in Angoche district had been paralysed for nine months. The contractor complained that it had not been paid, whilst the local government accused it of taking the money and failing to complete the work. Haiyu has paid the Provincial Directorate of Mineral Resources for the work.Haiyu began mining at Sangage last year for zircon, ilmenite and rutile.Ilmenite (iron titanium oxide) and rutile (titanium dioxide) are used to make white pigments for paints, paper and plastic. Titanium can be extracted from these ores and used to manufacture metallic parts where light weight and high strength are needed. Zircon (zirconium silicate) is used for abrasive and insulating purposes.