Last update:
2014-08-18

Matola Gas Company CDM project, Mozambique


Description:

The project involves switching from coal to natural gas at the rotary kiln of a clinker manufacturing plant. The Matola Gas Company, a joint venture of the Mozambican Government and Gigajoule International will be responsible for the transmission of gas to Cimentos de Mocambique. The price of gas offered to Cimentos de Mocambique by MGC in their 2007 contract, assumes carbon revenue from CDMs. Application for registration as a CDM was made in 2009, however according the UNFCCC site, the project was rejected. The fuel switch project was developed by CDM during a period when the company was under investigation by the state and environmental justice groups for emitting high levels of air pollution. Furthermore, this was a period of skyrocketing coal prices. Between 2007 and 2009 coal rose almost 30% annually.

Basic Data
Name of conflict:Matola Gas Company CDM project, Mozambique
Country:Mozambique
State or province:Maputo
Location of conflict:Matola
Accuracy of locationHIGH (Local level)
Source of Conflict
Type of conflict. 1st level:Industrial and Utilities conflicts
Type of conflict. 2nd level:REDD/CDM
Mineral processing
Specific commodities:Cement
Carbon offsets
Natural Gas
Coal
Project Details and Actors
Project details

With 80 percent of the market share, Portuguese-owned Cimentos de Mocambique is the largest cement plant and the only clinker production plant in Mozambique. It produces approx 240,000 tonnes clinker and 400,000 tonnes cement per year, though that number is set to expand as the company is adding another kiln. According to the company this switch will result in annual emission reductions of 37,153 tonnes CO2 a year, between 2009 and 2016. However, a recent study by Groundwork found that pollution rates remain well above WHO limits. Its is unclear to what extent the neighboring Mozal factory also contributes to pollution.

Type of populationUnknown
Start of the conflict:2006
Company names or state enterprises:Cimentos de Mocambique from Mozambique
Cimentos De Portugal from Portugal
Gigajoule International from South Africa
Relevant government actors:Primary: Ministerio para a Coordenacao da Accao Ambiental , Ministry for Trade and Industry, Matola Gas Company SARL, Secondary: National Department of Health, National Department of Industry, Provincial Department for Coordination of Environmental Activity, Provincial Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, Provincial Department of Public Works and Housing, Maputo Provincial Government, Matola City Municipality
International and Finance InstitutionsCarbon Limits A/S from Norway
Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available:Livaningo (Mozambique), http://www.livaningo.org.mz/htt/port.html, Justica Ambiental (Mozambique), http://ja4change.wordpress.com/, Groundwork (South Africa)
Conflict & Mobilization
IntensityLOW (some local organising)
Reaction stageUnknown
Groups mobilizing:Farmers
International ejos
Local ejos
Landless peasants
Local government/political parties
Social movements
Religious groups
Fisher people
Forms of mobilization:Creation of alternative reports/knowledge
Development of a network/collective action
Development of alternative proposals
Involvement of national and international NGOs
Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism
Media based activism/alternative media
Official complaint letters and petitions
Public campaigns
Shareholder/financial activism.
Street protest/marches
Arguments for the rights of mother nature
Impacts
Health ImpactsVisible: Infectious diseases
Outcome
Project StatusUnknown
Conflict outcome / response:Corruption
Criminalization of activists
Institutional changes
Court decision (victory for environmental justice)
Court decision (failure for environmental justice)
Migration/displacement
Repression
Violent targeting of activists
Environmental improvements
Proposal and development of alternatives:A Renewable Energy Plan for Mozambique
http://www.internationalrivers.org/files/attached-files/clean_energy_for_mz_30_9_09.pdf
(see also attached)
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:Not Sure
Sources & Materials
Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc)

Clean Development Mechanisms

Mozambican Constitution

References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries

(see also attached)

A Renewable Energy Plan for Mozambique
[click to view]

UNFCCC CDM page:
[click to view]

MOZAMBIQUE: Cement Company Tries to Explain Pollution, Corpwatch
[click to view]

Other documents

A Renewable Anergy Plan for Mozambique, by Mark Hankins
[click to view]

Meta information
Contributor:Ruth Castel-Branco
Last update18/08/2019
Conflict ID:858
Comments
Legal notice / Aviso legal
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