Beira, Mozambique, 23 July – Brazilian mining company Vale is interested in mining phosphate deposits in Mozambique’s Nampula province, said Mozambique’s national Mines director, Eduardo Alexandre, speaking to newspaper Diário de Moçambique.

He also told the paper, which is published in the city of Beira, Sofala province, that Vale had already started some studies to assess the size of the deposits and that company officials had been, “happy with the results."

The official told Diário de Moçambique that Vale was due to start an economic feasibility study in 2011 although mining of the deposits was not expected to begin before 2014.

Alexandre gave no figure for Vale’s expected investment in the Nampula phosphates, but said that it could be higher than Vale’s investment in its coal concession in Moatize, in Tete province.

Phosphates have many industrial and agricultural applications, namely production of fertilisers, but their mining is expensive due to having to prevent heavy metals, such as cadmium and lead, from reaching waterways. (macauhub)