Mozambique is going through a crucial political and institutional moment, marked by the implementation of the Inclusive National Dialogue, which aims to promote deep and participatory reforms in strategic sectors for the country’s future. One of the central axes of this process is the revision and modernization of the legal framework for the governance of natural resources, in a context in which the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME) has announced its intention to revise the laws governing the mining, oil and gas and energy sectors.
These reforms come at a time when Mozambique is recognized as one of the African countries with great potential in the field of critical minerals, indispensable resources for the global energy and technological transition. Elements such as lithium, graphite, tantalum, niobium, titanium and rare earths are now considered strategic for the production of electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, solar panels and electronic devices, sectors in which the country can play an important role.
The World Bank highlights the country as a new mining frontier, with significant reserves of graphite, lithium, tantalum, niobium and titanium, located mainly in Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Zambézia and Manica. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) point out that these resources can boost industrialization and economic diversification, provided they are accompanied by legal reforms and local value-added policies.
For their part, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the European Commission, through the AfricaMaVal project, stress that Mozambique can become a strategic supplier of minerals for the global green economy, but warn of the need for a modern and transparent legal framework.
However, despite this potential, Mozambique still lacks a robust and specific legislative and institutional framework that adequately regulates the research, exploration and marketing of critical minerals. Current laws, such as the Mining Law (Law No. 20/2014) and the Petroleum Law (Law No. 21/2014), were conceived in a context dominated by hydrocarbons and traditional minerals, and do not fully respond to the new demands of sustainability, traceability, local value and balance of interests that characterize the international market for strategic minerals.
National and international experience shows that prosperity based on natural resources requires a balance between three fundamental dimensions:
– The sovereign interest of the state, which must ensure that the exploitation of resources generates tangible benefits for the country’s economic, industrial and social development;
– The right of citizens, as legitimate owners of natural resources, to benefit directly and equitably from the revenues, infrastructures and opportunities resulting from exploitation;
– The interest of exploration companies, which invest capital and technology and take significant financial risks, seeking legal stability, contractual security and a predictable business environment.
Finding a balance between these dimensions is one of Mozambique’s main political and institutional challenges. These challenges must be tackled openly, inclusively and with multiple stakeholders.
For this reason, holding a National Conference on Critical Minerals is particularly important, not just as a technical forum, but as a space for inclusive political and legislative dialogue, which should actively involve the Assembly of the Republic, the Provincial Assemblies, the Executive, the private sector, academia, civil society and cooperation partners.
The Assembly of the Republic, as the sovereign body with the power to pass laws and exercise political oversight over the government, plays a decisive role in this process. It will be up to this body to decide on the legislative proposals resulting from the review conducted by MIREME and to ensure that they reflect the public interest, social justice and economic and environmental sustainability. Your participation in the conference is therefore essential to anticipate parliamentary debates, gather technical and political input and strengthen the legislative process based on evidence and plural dialog.
For their part, the Provincial Assemblies have relevant competencies in the context of decentralized governance, especially in the areas of representing citizens, overseeing the actions of the Provincial Executive Council, monitoring the use of natural resources and promoting local development.
The active involvement of these institutions is essential to ensure that the management of critical minerals is not limited to the central sphere, but translates into concrete and balanced benefits in the producing provinces. These assemblies also play a crucial role in mediating between communities, authorities and companies, ensuring that extractive projects respect human rights, environmental standards and social commitments.
The need for this forum is also reinforced by the current international context. The global energy transition is driving a new race for critical minerals, and African countries with similar potential to Mozambique, such as Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, are reforming their legal frameworks to increase local value, ensure transparency and attract sustainable investment. Mozambique therefore needs to position itself competitively and responsibly, with a modern and inclusive legislative vision that balances national sovereignty, investment attraction and social benefits.
In this sense, the National Conference on Critical Minerals will be a platform for articulating technical knowledge, political vision and social responsibility, where paths will be discussed for a model of governance and exploitation of resources that serves the collective interests of the state and citizens, without discouraging responsible private investment.
The initiative is in line with the principles of the Inclusive National Dialogue, strengthens the role of Parliament and the Provincial Assemblies in building participatory public policies and contributes to consolidating a sustainable, transparent and inclusive development model based on territorial justice and intergenerational equity.
Ultimately, this conference is not just a technical exercise, but an act of democratic governance and national sovereignty, aimed at ensuring that Mozambique’s critical minerals become a lever of prosperity for all Mozambicans, with Parliament and the Provincial Assemblies at the heart of this transformation process.
Conference objectives
General Objective
To promote an inclusive technical, political and legislative dialogue on the governance of critical minerals in Mozambique, with a view to formulating contributions to the revision of mining and related laws, ensuring a balance between national sovereignty, the benefits for citizens and the competitiveness of exploration companies.
Specific Objectives
– Analyze the current legal and institutional framework of the mining sector and identify specific gaps and challenges related to critical minerals;
– Collect technical subsidies and recommendations to support the legislative review process conducted by MIREME and debated by the Assembly of the Republic;
– Promote the sharing of regional and international experiences on legal models and public policies for the governance of critical minerals;
– Strengthen the role of the Assembly of the Republic and the Provincial Assemblies in supervising, monitoring and representing the interests of citizens in matters of natural resources;
– Encourage cooperation between the state, the private sector, academia, local communities and development partners, with a view to creating a fair, transparent and sustainable regulatory framework;
– Raise awareness among political and economic players of the importance of critical minerals for Mozambique’s energy transition and industrial development.
Participants
The conference will bring together representatives from the Portuguese Parliament, provincial assemblies, the government, the private sector, academia, civil society, local communities, international cooperation partners and African and European countries with experience in the governance of critical minerals, ensuring broad and inclusive participation by the main national and international players in the sector.
Methodology
The National Conference will be organized in a face-to-face format, combining plenary sessions and thematic panels. The methodology will be based on promoting an open, participatory and results-oriented dialog.
Working Languages
The official working languages will be Portuguese and English, with simultaneous translation guaranteed in the plenary sessions and in the main thematic panels.
08H00: National Conference on Critical Minerals: Legal Reform, Governance and Benefits for Mozambique
Co-organizers: Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD) | Oxfam | Southern Africa Resource Network (SARW) | Chamber of Mines of Mozambique
Online participation via Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81821446919
Meeting ID: 81821446919
Passcode: 921315