Article 3 - Mozambique Goes Green, Blindsides International Mining Interests

Oil Price:
When thinking of Africa, only words like hunger, poverty, famine, drought, and malnutrition appear in our minds. We can not really understand that Africa has after all become a developing nation. It is hard to believe what with all the conflicts and poverty which still resides in the heart of Africa.
Foreign companies invest in Africa for its excess resources which has made it a resource hub for international companies which exploit the governments desperate "for foreign revenues" (oilprice.com).

This map shows the oil activity occurring in Mozambique after the discovery of heavy amounts of natural gases in the ocean and on land as well. 
An article by oilprice.com stated the Government of Mozambique, distinctively the Ministry for Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA), "has cancelled 146 investment projects in various economic activities because they failed to meet the requirements of the country's environmental laws". This clearly shows that even though the Mozambican Government could gain so much from foreign investments but they refused to damage their environment. The Zambeze Coal Project, owned by Riversdale Mining Ltd., were granted an exploration license. The originally Australian Company had proposed to transport coal to the sea by using the Zambezi river as a transport medium. They also submitted an Environmental Impact Report which concluded the this activity would not cause significant damage to the environment. The Mozambican Government, nevertheless, restricted them from doing this. If the Zambezi River would have been used to transport the coal, it would have concluded in a natural disaster as the coal would have infiltrated the water. The villagers living in the nearby small villages who depended on the river for clean water would have lost their access of water. Moreover the wild life living in the wilderness fearlessly would also have lost their source of water. The fishes in the river would have died due to chemicals and other things. This would also cause the fisherman to loose their jobs and become jobless. The Zambezi River is the largest River Basin in South Africa which flows through Mozambique, Angola,  Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and also Zimbabwe. The governments decision has saved several lives and showed their concern for their country's growth and prosperity. 


MLA Bibliography for Article:
Daly, John. "Mozambique Goes Green, Blindsides International Mining Interests."Mozambique Goes Green, Blindsides International Mining Interests. Oilprice.com, 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 19 July 2012. <http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/Mozambique-Goes-Green-Blindsides-International-Mining-Interests.html>.


MLA Bibliography for Image:
Wentworth Resources. Mozambique Oil and Gas Exploration. 2011. Photograph. Mozambique. Oil and Gas - Mergers and Acquisition Review. Sanjay Samuel, July 2011. Web. 19 July 2012. <http://mergersandacquisitionreviewcom.blogspot.com/2011/07/mozambique-oil-gas-exploration-in-2011.html>.

Yavnika Kumar

19.07.12