The Vulcan mining company, which explores coal in Mozambique, has exceeded the “pollution limits” in Ivete Maibaze, Mozambique’s Minister of Land and Environment, announced on September 09 that the Vulcan coal operation in Moatize, located in the central Tete province, has not met environmental quality standards.
According to Maibaze, Vulcan has exceeded pollution limits and conducted several detonation activities at the mine without adhering to environmental regulations. The announcement came in response to complaints from residents of eight neighborhoods in Moatize, who have reported increased pollution due to Vulcan’s operations.
A letter from local residents to the company criticized Vulcan’s practices, stating they do not align with the human rights standards outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In response to these concerns, the ministry has formed a team to evaluate Vulcan’s adherence to its environmental management plan. This team has requested all relevant documentation and is currently assessing the preliminary results from their fieldwork, according to Maibaze.