On the 10th of October, 2007, the Mozambican government contracted 30,000 hectares in the Massinger district of the southern province of Gaza to CAMEC/ProCana for ethanol production. The area was to be monoculture planted with sugar cane and irrigated with water from the Massingir dam on the Elephants river – to the detriment of farmers water supply downstream. Under the Land Law of 1997 the land was leased for 50 years (renewable). The Ministry of Tourism, however, had already been promised the same land for the establishment of Limpopo National Park (LNP). Already residents were being involuntarily relocated by Ministry for the establishment of the park, and ProCana’s claims on the same land furthered villagers’ frustrations. Tensions rose between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as between the national and district government. When villagers aligned with LNP (against ProCana) the agreement fell apart and in January of 2009 the government revoked the concession due to non-compliance with contractual clauses. It is still possible that other investors may acquire the project. |
Name of conflict: | ProCana Sugar Plantation, Limpopo, Mozambique |
Country: | Mozambique |
State or province: | Gaza |
Location of conflict: | Limpopo National Park/Massingir District |
Accuracy of location | MEDIUM (Regional level) |
Type of conflict. 1st level: | Biomass and Land Conflicts (Forests, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Management) |
Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Land acquisition conflicts Establishment of reserves/national parks Dams and water distribution conflicts Agro-fuels and biomass energy plants |
Specific commodities: | Sugar Ethanol |
Project details | million liters of ethanol annually from 30,000 hectares, with an investment of $510 million, as well as a factory which will create 7,000 jobs and an annual income of 40 million. It would have used 108 billion gallons of water annually. |
Project area: | 30,000 |
Level of Investment: | 510,000,000 |
Type of population | Rural |
Affected Population: | 9.000 |
Company names or state enterprises: | Central African Mining and Exploration Company (CAMEC) from United Kingdom - Defunct November 2009 ProCana from Mozambique BioEnergy Africa from South Africa - now Sable Mining in British Virgin Islands |
Relevant government actors: | Mozambique: Agricultural Minister Erasmo Muhate, Deputy Planning and Development Minister Victor Bernardo, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture, Council of Ministries |
International and Finance Institutions | The World Bank (WB) from United States of America |
Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | National Organization of Mozambican peasants, pastoralists, JA (Justiça Ambiental), http://ja4change.wordpress.com/2012/, UNAC (uniãoNacional dos, Limpopo National Park Camponeses), Centro Terra Viva |
Intensity | LOW (some local organising) |
Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Landless peasants Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Pastoralists Conservationists, Workers from the Limpopo National Park |
Forms of mobilization: | Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Involvement of national and international NGOs Resisting displacement, reports, meetings , debates, organizing of commissions (commissions to suggest alternatives were set up) |
Environmental Impacts | Potential: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity |
Other Environmental impacts | reduced water flow to farmers downstream of Massingir Dam. |
Health Impacts | Potential: Malnutrition |
Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Land dispossession Potential: Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
Project Status | Stopped |
Conflict outcome / response: | Strengthening of participation Application of existing regulations Withdrawal of company/investment Project temporarily suspended |
Development of alternatives: | Proper consultation and Environmental Impact Assessments. Respect for the law. Recognition of overlapping community rights. |
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
Briefly explain: | Concession revoked by the council of ministers due to non-compliance with contractual clauses. CAMEC decided to shift investment away from biofuels. yet other investors acquiring the project is still possible, and the company still owns land in the region. |
Related laws and legislations - Juridical texts related to the conflict |
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References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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Links to general newspaper articles, blogs or other websites |
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Contributor: | Aliza Tuttle |
Last update | 01/07/2014 |