About 1 billion tonnes of coal has been found in Cahora Bassa district of the northwestern province of Tete, state radio reported on Saturday.

Prospection for the mineral had been carried out by a company from Kazaquistan, which is interested in exploring the coal in Chitima administrative post of Cahora Bassa.

Mineral resources minister, Esperanca Bias, who was on a working visit to Tete recently, told Radio Mozambique that a feasibility study, lasting for one and half a year, is under way, and exploration of the coal will start two years after.

Large quantities of coal are also found in Moatize district of the same province.