Mozambique’s Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy will host the Conference on Value Addition Based on Available Mineral and Energy Resources (CAVAME-d) from 19 to 24 October 2026 in Nacala-Porto, Nampula province, as the government seeks to attract investment in domestic mineral processing and industrial development.
The conference, announced by Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Estêvão Pale, will bring together government officials, project developers, financiers, academic institutions and international operators to present targeted investment packages aimed at converting Mozambique’s raw resource potential into localised industrial developments.
“We will present project packages based on available minerals for local processing, driving industrialisation, innovation, employment and prosperity,” Pale said.
INVESTMENT PACKAGES ACROSS MULTIPLE SECTORS
According to the Ministry, the event will showcase concrete investment opportunities in graphite, heavy mineral sands, limestone, clay, natural gas and logistics.
The approach extends beyond mineral beneficiation to encompass petrochemicals, fertilizers, synthetic fuels and regional power generation, leveraging Mozambique’s substantial natural gas reserves . Supporting infrastructure investments will also be targeted, including logistics networks and specialised aviation services for the offshore hydrocarbons industry .
The conference will additionally host the Nacala Gem Fair (FAGENA), featuring Mozambique’s inaugural international gemstone auction. The sale aims to connect domestic gemstone producers with global buyers and establish formalised local value addition for precious stones before export.
NEW MINING LAW DRIVES BENEFICIATION AGENDA
The conference comes in the wake of Mozambique’s new Mining Law (Law No. 7/2026), signed by President Daniel Chapo on 3 June 2026, which introduced sweeping reforms designed to capture more value from the country’s mineral wealth .
Key provisions of the new law include:
- A mandatory 15% free-carried, non-dilutable state stake in all mining projects, held through the National Mining Company (ENM)
- A ban on exports of raw and semi-processed minerals unless operators secure ministerial approval supported by a local processing plan
- A requirement to allocate 20% of mineral products to local processing
The legislation positions the state as a permanent participant across the mining value chain, from exploration through to processing and commercialisation.
GRAPHITE AT THE CENTRE
Mozambique’s push for local processing is particularly focused on graphite, where the country ranks as the world’s third-largest producer after China and Madagascar . Graphite is a critical mineral for lithium-ion battery anodes, making Mozambique increasingly strategic as global demand for electric vehicles and energy storage expands.
The Nipepe graphite processing plant in Niassa province, inaugurated in January 2026 by Chinese company DH Mining with a $200 million investment, serves as an early example of the government’s beneficiation strategy. The facility integrates prospecting, extraction, processing and commercialisation, employing approximately 1,000 permanent workers and over 200 temporary workers .
CHALLENGES AND INVESTOR CONCERNS
While the beneficiation agenda has broad support, the new mining law has raised concerns among investors. The Mozambique Chamber of Mines has warned that the free-carried 15% state stake could deter foreign investment, though it expressed support for the government’s local processing objectives .
“The Chamber of Mines fears that holding at least 15% of mining companies for free will harm Mozambique’s attractiveness for foreign investment,” said Vice President Geert Kolk, while acknowledging that local value addition is “a regional trend, an African trend”.
Questions also remain about whether the new provisions will apply retrospectively to existing operations covered by long-term agreements. The specific list of strategic minerals subject to mandatory mining contracts with ENM is expected to be published by December 2026 .
Minister Pale has emphasised that Mozambique is open for business, but on different terms: “The country is open for business, but it is no longer satisfied with simply selling ore. It wants to build the factories, the supply chains, and the technical capacity that turn geological endowment into economic resilience”.