Mozambique’s Civil Aviation Institute (IACM) has announced plans to strengthen coordination with the mineral resources and energy sector to develop air transport and logistics solutions capable of meeting the growing demands of the extractive industry.

The initiative was announced on Wednesday (21) in Nacala, Nampula province, by IACM Board Chairman Emanuel Chaves, during the African Conference and Exhibition on Aviation and Mining (CAVAME-d), which brings together representatives from the aviation and extractive industry sectors to discuss cooperation opportunities.

On the occasion, Chaves presented the Civil Aviation System Master Plan 2026–45, approved by the Council of Ministers in January this year, explaining that the instrument covers nine areas of intervention and 141 activities, with emphasis on the modernisation of airport infrastructure, improvements to air connectivity, strengthening of operational safety, and optimisation of airspace management.

The investment, initially estimated at $710 million, was revised down to $420 million with the aim of aligning the plan with implementation conditions. According to Chaves, the IACM is working with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on the preparation of a development compact to mobilise resources for the execution of the planned interventions.

Quoted by the Mozambique Information Agency, Emanuel Chaves said that among the infrastructure expected to benefit from improvements are the airports of Pemba, in Cabo Delgado province, and Vilankulo, in Inhambane, both of which are slated for capacity upgrades.

Chaves also revealed that the IACM, in coordination with the State Shareholding Management Institute (IGEPE), has submitted a proposal to the government to transform the civil aviation sector into a special economic zone with tax exemptions. The initiative is awaiting review by the relevant authorities.

About the event

The Conference on Value Addition to Available Mineral and Energy Resources (CAVAME-d) runs from 19 to 24 October in the city of Nacala-Porto, Nampula province. Organised by the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME), the gathering brings together government members, domestic and international investors, private sector representatives, financial institutions, universities, and cooperation partners, with the objective of promoting local transformation of mineral and energy resources and attracting investment for the country’s industrialisation.

Among the participants are the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Estêvão Pale, the Governor of Nampula, Eduardo Mariamo Abdula, and a delegation from the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA), led by its chairman, Álvaro Massingue. The programme includes presentations on investment opportunities in the mining and energy sectors, debates on natural gas utilisation and infrastructure development, as well as the Nacala Gems Fair, which features an international gem auction.