Good afternoon. This week has again been dominated by reactions to the Kroll audit of the three hidden debt deals. At Frelimo’s Central Committee meeting which ended a week ago, defence minister Atanasio N’tumuke said he’d seen no sign of the $500 million of the EMATUM bond that was supposedly taken onto the country’s defence budget.
SEE: Mozambique defence minister says he hasn’t seen ‘missing’ $500m
At the same event, the man who was defence minister at the time - now President Filipe Nyusi - said justice must be allowed to take its course in the case, which he said shows signs of potential criminality.
SEE: Nyusi says justice must take its course on ‘potentially criminal’ maritime deals
While the three Mozambican companies - ProIndicus, EMATUM, and MAM - have yet to make any official comment (bizarre WhatsApp messages from their CEO notwithstanding), the international companies that won the contracts and helped arrange the financing have forced Kroll to make corrections and amendments to its report.
SEE: Kroll amends Mozambique audit report after Privinvest complaints
On Monday, Anadarko formally announced that legislation for its marine concession had been enacted, and promised - apparently in answer to pressure from President Nyusi - to try and hurry along towards a Final Investment Decision.
SEE: Anadarko to ‘intensify’ work on Moz LNG after Nyusi calls for ‘more dynamism’
Anadarko’s neighbours in the Rovuma Basin, Eni, have taken FID on their floating LNG project but are still tying up loose ends in their $2.8bn stake sale to ExxonMobil. Mozambique’s tax authority is looking forward to a windfall in October or November once the deal is done.
SEE: Mozambique tax receipts up; still waiting for Eni-Exxon windfall
Transport minister Carlos Mesquita promised progress soon on two key projects, when Zitamar caught up with him at Frelimo’s Central Committee meeting. The concession contract for Nacala Airport will be published soon, he said, and the state marine transport company will also announce its partner to set up a cabotage service before the end of the year.
SEE: Delayed tender for Nacala airport concession to be released ‘soon’ – minister
SEE: Chinese and Portuguese bidders for Mozambique cabotage PPP
The Portuguese-owned Portucel eucalyptus project has been unable to move forward with its investments as quickly as it had hoped due to the difficulties of doing business in Mozambique over the last couple of years. It has now come up with a new plan to allow it to start exporting sooner - and has already completed a successful pilot of the project.
SEE: Portucel plans Mozambique wood chip exports to Asia
Cashew is a much longer-established crop in Mozambique, but the industry is hoping the law governing the sector will be updated later this year, so they can take full advantage of improved weather conditions that are leading to a bumper harvest.
SEE: Mozambique grows cashew industry as weather and regulations improve
In Tete province, the community living next to the Jindal coal mine have threatened to shut down the Indian company’s operation if they don’t get properly resettled - three years after the company started digging coal out of the ground there.
FREE TO READ: Locals threaten to shut down Jindal coal mine over resettlement failings
And finally, the local police commander in the district of Macomia, on the coast of north-eastern province of Cabo Delgado, has said there is no Al Shabaab activity in the area - contradicting recent reports.
SEE: Police quash reports of Al Shabaab in Mozambique
Have a great weekend.
RECENT POSTS
- Mozambique tax receipts up; still waiting for Eni-Exxon windfall
- Mozambique defence minister says he hasn’t seen ‘missing’ $500m
- Locals threaten to shut down Jindal coal mine over resettlement failings
- Portucel plans Mozambique wood chip exports to Asia
- Mozambique grows cashew industry as weather and regulations improve
- Delayed tender for Nacala airport concession to be released ‘soon’ – minister
- Chinese and Portuguese bidders for Mozambique cabotage PPP
- Police quash reports of Al Shabaab in Mozambique
- Kroll amends Mozambique audit report after Privinvest complaints
- Anadarko to ‘intensify’ work on Moz LNG after Nyusi calls for ‘more dynamism’
- Nyusi says justice must take its course on ‘potentially criminal’ maritime deals
