Talks on bauxite venture

Malawi and Mozambique are discussing plans to sell bauxite to be used in Mozambique’s Mozal aluminium plant in a project to be launched in September, media reports said.

Malawi, said the reports, possesses about 28,000 mt of unexploited bauxite, which has been discovered in the folds of the Mulanje mountain in the southern district of Mulanje.

Malawi’s Vice-president Justin Malewezi said the deal will benefit the two neighbours. “This will be of great benefit to both countries since Mozambique will cut expenses of importing allumina from Australia while Malawi will benefit from job creation,” he said. Malawi, however, has only managed to raise US $15 million for the project, while at least US $800 million in operating capital will be needed before mining operations can start, added the reports.