Maputo, Feb. 28, 2025 (Lusa) - Ruby production in Mozambique last year soared by 46% to almost 4 million carats, according to the latest government figures, consulted by Lusa.
"In the group of precious and semi-precious stones, the biggest highlight goes to ruby, which in the period under review recorded a degree of execution of 128% in relation to the annual plan and a growth rate of 46%," reads the document containing the results of exports last year.
Ruby production thus grew from the 2023 figure of 2,710,617.70 carats to 3,946,506.90 carats last year, against the target for 2024 set by the government, of 3,080,895 carats.
According to the document, this growth resulted "from the good performance of the SLR Mining company, which took over the position of largest producer of this mineral resource, with the start-up of yet another processing plant.
"This company was responsible for producing more than 70% of the total of this mineral resource," it continues. "Another factor is the full resumption of production by Moza Minerals, coupled with the fact that Montepuez Ruby Mining has carried out intensive excavation in three more highly productive blocks."
Ruby production in Mozambique in 2023 had been down, from 4.2 million carats in 2022 and 5 million carats in 2021.
The mining of rubies at the Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) facility in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, has alone brought in almost €1 billion since 2012, according to figures previously released by the UK-based company Gemfields, which owns 75% of MRM.
According to data up to December from the 'G Factor for Natural Resources' report, whose stated aim is to foster "transparency" about the level of wealth from human resources shared by Gemfields "with the governments of host countries" from the mining, oil, gas, timber and fishing sectors, MRM had a total income of $151.3 million (€141 million) in 2023.
Since Gemfields acquired 75% of MRM in February 2012 - when mining began, with ruby auctions starting two years later - the mine has had cumulative revenues of more than $1.055 billion (€982.7 million), paying the Mozambican state $257.4 million (€239.7 million) over that period.
MRM, which is 25% owned by Mwiriti Limitada, a local company, in 2023 paid the Mozambican state $53.2 million (€49.6 million) in royalties and taxes in 2023, according to the same report.
PVJ/ARO // ARO.
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