Maputo, Oct. 7, 2025 (Lusa) - Gemfields has postponed the auction of rubies from the Montepuez mine in Mozambique until early 2026, citing the impact of daily "sabotage" by hundreds of illegal miners at the new facility under construction in that area of Cabo Delgado.
In a statement sent on Tuesday to Lusa, the British company, which leads Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM), said it "has taken the decision to postpone the usual November/December ruby auction to January/February" next year due to "the previously announced delay in the definitive start-up of the second processing plant", which has "now been exacerbated by the actions of illegal miners".
It explains that, "although definitive operation is still scheduled for October," the operation of the new factory "has been significantly affected during the last week by illegal miners, who currently number between 250 and 400 each day, sabotaging the factory's supply infrastructure."
"In addition, illegally mined rubies leaving the Montepuez region have a detrimental impact on market prices and Mozambique's tax revenues from its ruby resources. Gemfields and MRM continue to collaborate with the relevant Mozambican government authorities," the statement reads.
The same statement mentions that a "mini auction" of mixed-quality rough rubies from MRM was held after exhibitions in Bangkok, Thailand, from 29 September to 3 October, which raised US$11 million (€9.4 million), with 26 of the 33 lots on offer being sold, corresponding to 62% of the 297,449 carats on sale.
MRM plans to triple processing at the ruby mine in northern Mozambique to 600 tonnes per hour, a source at Gemfields, which owns 75% of MRM - with a concession area of 34,966 hectares - told Lusa in June, with the remaining 25% owned by Mozambican company Mwiriti, in an investment of US$70 million (€59.8 million).
Gemfields, which owns and operates the mine, acknowledged at the time that the construction of the second ruby processing unit, designated PP2, at MRM represented "a crucial project to increase the production of premium rubies and generate additional revenue for the group by the end of 2025".
The second unit also leaves open the possibility of expansion "into other mining areas" at that MRM concession, which currently employs 1,300 workers, 94% of whom are Mozambican.
Revenues from ruby exports fell 30% in the first quarter of the year, year-on-year, to US$5.1 million (€4.3 million), according to data from Mozambique's central bank reported this month by Lusa.
This performance compares with US$7.2 million (€6.1 million) from January to March 2024, according to the latest statistical report on exports from the Bank of Mozambique.
This drop in export revenues contrasts with Mozambique's forecasts to produce more than 4.1 million carats of rubies in 2025, an increase of 5% over 2024 production, according to government data.
The previous document on the economic forecast for 2025 estimated the production of 4,143,832 carats of rubies in mining concessions in Mozambique from January to December, being the "product with the greatest weight in the overall structure of precious and semi-precious stones" produced in the country, with 76% of the total destined for export.
Ruby production in Mozambique had skyrocketed in 2024 to almost four million carats, an increase of 46% over the previous year, according to previous government data.
PVJ/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
