The Australian company South32 announced that it is continuing negotiations with the Government and its energy partners to ensure the continuity of operations of Mozal Aluminium, the largest aluminium foundry in Africa and the country's leading industry, although it maintains the forecast of suspending activities in March 2026 if insufficient electricity is not guaranteed and at affordable prices, Lusa said on Tuesday, 21 October.
" Despite our efforts, the negotiations have not progressed in such a way as to generate confidence that Mozal Aluminium will ensure sufficient and accessible electricity supply beyond March 2026", says the company in a note sent to the markets. "Without the necessary electricity supply," he adds, "we intend to put the unit under maintenance after that date. "
South32 also reported that it maintains active contact with the Government, Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric (HCB) and South African Eskom, a company that buys energy from HCB and sells it to Mozal, "to ensure a sustainable solution that preserves the operation of the foundry", which employs about 5,000 workers in the Beluluane area around Maputo.
According to the source, Mozal's sellable production increased by 3% in the third quarter of 2025 to 93,000 tonnes compared to the previous quarter, "working close to its maximum technical capacity", although the company decided in August to stop the coating of the vat due to uncertainty about the supply of energy after March 2026.
The production forecast for the fiscal year 2026 remains at 240 thousand tonnes, "based on the continuity of operations until the end of the current electricity supply contract".
