{"id":3535,"date":"2026-05-22T05:24:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T03:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/?p=3535"},"modified":"2026-05-20T18:49:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T16:49:43","slug":"a-guide-to-trimming-aside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/a-guide-to-trimming-aside\/","title":{"rendered":"A guide to trimming aside the coast"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By Estacio Valoi and Lu\u00eds Nhachote<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>An investigation into territory, power, and the future in Inhambane<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Haiyu received our questions over a month ago to exercise its sacred right to a response, but has so far declined to answer<\/p>\n<p>In Vilankulo, an incomparable paradise on the coast of Inhambane, famous for being the main departure point for the Bazaruto archipelago, the landscape is changing rapidly in some places, far from public scrutiny.<br \/>\nSince 2025, heavy machinery has been operating on the coastal dunes of this district in Inhambane province. Heavy sand extraction is already underway. It was not announced with much public debate. It did not take center stage on the national agenda. But on the ground, the transformation is visible. Excavators advance over dunes near the coastline. Trucks circulate continuously between extraction sites. In some areas, residents report restrictions on movement near the concession zones.<\/p>\n<p>The operation is led by Haiyu Mozambique Mining Co. Lda, a subsidiary of a mining group with predominantly Chinese capital, holding concessions for the extraction of minerals such as ilmenite and zircon, resources highly valued on the international market.<br \/>\nDocuments and records obtained or consulted by the Center for Investigative Journalism (CJI) point to a large-scale project: long-term concessions, reserves estimated at tens of millions of tons, and investments valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.<br \/>\nBut there is a central gap: the scale of the project has not been accompanied by a commensurate level of public transparency. Who authorized the mining? Under what conditions? Based on what studies? And under what oversight mechanisms? The questions begin precisely there.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mining Underway, Oversight Uncertain<\/strong><br \/>\nIn the coastal dunes, the activity is far from discreet. In February, our CJI team visited the site and observed intensive excavation, constant truck traffic, and the systematic removal of sand from natural formations that act as barriers against coastal erosion. These dunes are not just sand. They function as natural infrastructure for territorial protection.<br \/>\nTheir removal raises a direct question: Who is monitoring the impacts\u2014and with what independence?<br \/>\nEnvironmental licensing has become one of the project\u2019s most opaque aspects. Local sources and civil society organizations question whether the Environmental Impact Study was properly validated; whether public consultations were truly inclusive; and whether environmental conditions are being met.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 832px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('video');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-3535-1\" width=\"832\" height=\"464\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Concessao-da-HM-Belane-Chipanzane3.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Concessao-da-HM-Belane-Chipanzane3.mp4\">https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Concessao-da-HM-Belane-Chipanzane3.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p><strong><br \/>\n<strong>There are troubling patterns .<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Previous studies related to mining operations along that coastal strip were challenged due to technical flaws and insufficient community involvement.<br \/>\nDespite this, mining activities proceeded without updated public reports and without visible accountability mechanisms.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3561\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3561\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3561\" src=\"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9672-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3561\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Foto: Estacio Valoi\/Vilankulo<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In the village of Belane, Chipanzane, some residents describe a growing atmosphere of restriction and tension near the mining area.<br \/>\nLocal residents report that access to certain areas near the beach has been restricted by the mining company\u2019s private security guards. Some describe incidents involving warning shots fired from firearms.<br \/>\n\u201cThey said no one was allowed to pass,\u201d said one resident.<\/p>\n<p>These reports could not be independently verified with the company by the time of this publication.<br \/>\nMining concession data reviewed by the CJI indicate that approximately 70% of the coastline of Inhambane Province\u2014roughly 353,000 hectares\u2014has already been allocated for the prospecting and mining of heavy sands in the province\u2019s ten coastal districts.<br \/>\nThe concession areas include zones near: the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park; the Vilankulo Wildlife Sanctuary; Inhambane Bay; the Quissico Lakes; and Poelela Lagoon. At the same time, a vast offshore area has been set aside for seismic testing and hydrocarbon exploration. Without much public debate, a silent transformation appears to be underway along the Mozambican coast. And the question becomes inevitable:<br \/>\nWho is deciding the future of the Inhambane coast\u2014and in the name of what?<br \/>\nLicenses, Lobbyists, and the State<\/p>\n<p>To attract foreign direct investment, the Mozambican government has introduced a series of tax incentives for the extractive sector over the past few years, including temporary exemptions, customs benefits, and tax breaks.<br \/>\nThe result has been rapid growth in concessions awarded to foreign companies, particularly in coastal areas considered strategic.<\/p>\n<p>Critics of the model argue, however, that the economic benefits remain concentrated among political and business elites, while local communities continue to be exposed to the social and environmental impacts of mining.<br \/>\nIn Inhambane, this expansion raises a question that is increasingly on the minds of environmental organizations, tour operators, and local communities:<br \/>\nTo what extent is the state balancing environmental conservation and mining operations?<br \/>\nIn 2024, during discussions with the research team, the deputy director of Haiyu Mozambique Mining Co. Lda, Juyi Li (\u201cFrancisco\u201d), stated that the company<\/p>\n<p>possessed:<br \/>\n\u25cf DUAT;<br \/>\n\u25cf an environmental license;<br \/>\n\u25cf and official authorization for the extraction and sale of heavy sands.<br \/>\nAccording to him, the documents would be sent to the CJI at a later date.<br \/>\nAs of the time of publication, this has not happened.<br \/>\nAt the same time, sources linked to the environmental sector claim that previous studies related to mining operations in that coastal area raised significant technical concerns.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3532\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3532\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3532\" src=\"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9677-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3532\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Foto; Estacio Valoi\/ mina da HM \/Vilankulo<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Contested EIA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) associated with the project has become one of the most controversial aspects of the process.<br \/>\nDocuments reviewed by the CJI show that technical opinions and contributions from various entities raised serious doubts regarding: the project\u2019s environmental viability; the quality of the technical assessment; and the risks to critical coastal ecosystems.<br \/>\nThe study warned of: destruction of coastal dunes; marine contamination; siltation; risks to coral reefs; dispersion of mineral dust; and potential impacts on protected biodiversity.<br \/>\nOne of the conclusions of the technical opinion was particularly severe:<br \/>\n\u201cThe project itself is completely unsuitable for this area.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Environmental experts also assert that the wastewater flows projected in the project were presented in the EIA in an overly simplified manner, without sufficient technical information for a robust independent assessment. The document also questions the potential impacts of the suction dredging method proposed by the company, warning of the risk of siltation, marine contamination, and destruction of coral reefs. The concerns are not limited to land-based mining.<\/p>\n<p>Alongside heavy sand mining, proposals have emerged for offshore seismic testing in an ecologically sensitive area near internationally recognized conservation zones.<br \/>\nEnvironmental experts warn that these projects could affect: fragile marine ecosystems; endangered species; fish populations; and the last viable population of dugongs in the Western Indian Ocean.<br \/>\nIn Inhambane province, where a large part of the population depends directly on the sea, fears are growing.<br \/>\nNatural Justice, Justi\u00e7a Ambiental, and other organizations have announced legal initiatives and formal requests for clarification to the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME) and the National Directorate of the Environment (DINAB).<br \/>\nThe organizations intend to question: the validity of environmental procedures; compliance with legal requirements; and the legality of the exploration already underway.<\/p>\n<p>According to a press release dated July 31, 2025, reviewed by CJI, representatives of environmental organizations met with provincial and district authorities in<\/p>\n<p>Inhambane to present aerial images of the active mining operation and express concerns regarding: environmental damage; regulatory gaps; and potential negative impacts on the regional tourism economy.<br \/>\nAccording to the same briefing note, the provincial governor reportedly requested an aerial survey of the area to prepare his own report for the Office of the President.<br \/>\nMeanwhile, mining activity continues on the ground. And the issue is no longer just environmental. It has become institutional.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Fenced Territory<\/strong><br \/>\nWhile concerns outside the concession area focus on the environment and permitting, complaints regarding working conditions and the treatment of local workers are beginning to emerge within the operation.<br \/>\nThe CJI has collected multiple testimonies from workers describing an environment marked by a lack of professional categories, overlapping roles, and intimidation in response to complaints.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHere, you do everything,\u201d says one worker. \u201cToday you\u2019re a mechanic, tomorrow a cook, then an electrician.\u201d<br \/>\nOthers describe a lack of career advancement and wages that make no distinction between different technical roles.<br \/>\n\u201cYou have to train the new hires, and they already earn the same as you.\u201d<br \/>\nThe complaints extend to food conditions and the relationship with supervisors.<br \/>\n\u201cThe food isn\u2019t even cooked properly sometimes.\u201d \u201cWhen we complain, they threaten to fire us.\u201d<br \/>\nThe accounts also describe an environment of psychological pressure and treatment considered degrading by some of the workers interviewed. To date, the company has not publicly responded to the allegations. The complaints arise within a broader context of local tension.<br \/>\nIn communities near the operation, residents report restrictions on movement and a growing sense of exclusion in areas traditionally used for fishing, beach access, and community activities.<br \/>\nIn Inhambane province, where about 60% of the population depends directly on coastal areas for daily subsistence, the fear is that environmental impacts will quickly turn into an economic and social crisis.<br \/>\nEnvironmental experts also warn of potential impacts on the last viable population of dugongs in the Western Indian Ocean.<br \/>\nEnvironmental organizations argue that seismic testing and coastal mining could affect: ecological corridors; marine reproduction; fish populations; and highly sensitive ecosystems.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3530\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3530\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3530\" src=\"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Foto-Estacio-ValoiBelane-ChipanzaneJPG-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Foto Estacio Valoi:\/Vilankulo\/Belane, Chipanzane\/Cacela da mineradora HM\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3530\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Foto Estacio Valoi:\/Vilankulo\/Belane, Chipanzane\/Cacela da mineradora HM<\/p><\/div>\n<p>For vulnerable fishing communities, a decline in fish stocks would mean a direct loss of income and livelihood. For many local residents, mining arrived before clear explanations were provided. And in various parts of the coast, the prevailing sentiment is no longer just economic anticipation. It is uncertainty.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Haiyu Precedents<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Concerns in Inhambane take on greater significance when viewed in light of Haiyu Mozambique Mining Co. Lda.\u2019s track record in other regions of the country.<br \/>\nBetween 2011 and 2015, the company operated in Nagonha, Angoche District, Nampula Province. In 2018, Amnesty International published a report documenting allegations of: destruction of coastal dunes; flooding; dumping of mining waste; loss of land; displacement of families; and impacts on fishing communities.<br \/>\nAccording to the report, approximately 290 people were left homeless following environmental changes associated with mining operations. The document also describes: the destruction of Miombo coastal forests; the filling in of lagoons; changes to watercourses; and the exposure of communities to potentially toxic waste.<br \/>\nNow, in Inhambane, environmental organizations and sectors of civil society are questioning whether a similar pattern might be repeating itself.<br \/>\nThe sheer size of the concession raises additional concerns.<br \/>\nSources consulted by CJI point to plans for logistical expansion associated with mining activities, including potential port infrastructure for mineral exports.<\/p>\n<p>If confirmed, these plans would completely alter the scale of the project.<br \/>\nThe operation would no longer be just a coastal mine but would become part of an extractive-industrial corridor with a structural impact on the Inhambane coastline.<br \/>\nIt is precisely on this coast that the following coexist: fragile marine ecosystems; international tourism; artisanal fishing; environmental conservation; and thousands of families dependent on the local ecological balance.<br \/>\nHundreds of millions of dollars have been invested over the past decades in Inhambane\u2019s maritime landscape, particularly in sustainable tourism, environmental conservation, and the blue economy. Tour operators and environmental organizations now fear that the simultaneous advance of mining, seismic testing, and potential petrochemical infrastructure will irreversibly compromise one of Southern Africa\u2019s most important coastal ecosystems.<br \/>\nThe question that emerges at the end of this first part of our investigation no longer concerns mining alone. It concerns the future of the Mozambican coast itself.<\/p>\n<p>Who is deciding this transformation\u2014and on whose behalf?<br \/>\nHaiyu received our questions over a month ago to exercise its right to a fair hearing, but has so far not deigned to respond.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Estacio Valoi and Lu\u00eds Nhachote &nbsp; &nbsp; An investigation into territory, power, and the future in Inhambane &nbsp; &#8211; Haiyu received our questions over a month ago to exercise its sacred right to a response, but has so far declined to answer In Vilankulo, an incomparable paradise on the coast of Inhambane, famous for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[273,271],"tags":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-250x167.jpg",150,100,true],"medium":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-400x267.jpg",300,200,true],"large":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-650x433.jpg",650,433,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-18x12.jpg",18,12,true],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-150x100.jpg",150,100,true],"retina2x":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-800x533.jpg",800,533,true],"retina3x":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-1200x800.jpg",1200,800,true],"retina4x":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-1600x1067.jpg",1600,1067,true],"retina5x":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-2000x1333.jpg",2000,1333,true],"retina6x":["https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_9698-2400x1600.jpg",2400,1600,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Reda\u00e7\u00e3o CJIMOZ","author_link":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/author\/hcuambe\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/category\/direitos-humanos\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Direitos Humanos<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/category\/corrupcao\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Corrup\u00e7\u00e3o<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"By Estacio Valoi and Lu\u00eds Nhachote &nbsp; &nbsp; An investigation into territory, power, and the future in Inhambane &nbsp; &#8211; Haiyu received our questions over a month ago to exercise its sacred right to a response, but has so far declined to answer In Vilankulo, an incomparable paradise on the coast of Inhambane, famous for&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3535"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3535"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3562,"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3535\/revisions\/3562"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjimoz.org.mz\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}