Mozambique's government is in negotiations with mining major Vale SA's Mozambique unit to restart the transport of coal mined at the company's Moatize operations through the Sena railway in the country, Macauhub reported Oct. 7, citing Carlos Mesquita, the minister of Transport and Communications.

Multiple attacks by gunmen on railcars forced the company to suspend coal shipments to the Indian Ocean port of Beira via the Sena line for about two months.

In a meeting with Vale Moçambique SA representatives, the government provided assurance that the Defence and Security Forces would be involved to ensure protection and allow railway operations to resume.

According to Mesquita, the country's state port and rail company CFM is losing about US$50 million due to the stoppage of coal trains.