Mozambique's Energy Industry

Mozambique: Emerging Gas Market

Mozambique’s oil and gas industry has greatly grown in significance with the discovery of major offshore gas plays beginning in 2010. Continued finds and investment have fast tracked the nation towards its potential of being the third-largest global LNG supplier, with operators TotalEnergies, Eni and ExxonMobil leading the charge through massive development of upstream and associated facilities. Mozambique traditionally only produced gas from its onshore plays operated by South Africa’s Sasol. The country produces no oil and is reliant on imports.

The African nation has worked hard to streamline policies and break down bottlenecks in meeting its immense capacity potential. However, security issues and economic factors have largely held back massive development, with many projects put on hold. Government involvement in hydrocarbons operations is done through local NOC Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos, which is a necessary stakeholder in all oil and gas operations. Upstream E&P concessions are handed out and overseen by state-body National Petroleum Institute, which has been active in carrying out seismic studies to expand the country’s investment potential.

“LNG offers a huge economic, but arguably more importantly a development opportunity, for Mozambique. The Rovuma Basin alone has the capacity to boost Mozambican GDP by up to USD 18 billion per annum.” Managing Associate Nuno Manshilha and Trainee Lawyer Miguel Couto at CMS Portugal told The Energy Year.

“The projects offer the potential to create over 300,000 employment opportunities alone, and in order to meet the mega-project’s needs, Mozambique will have to improve their water, road and electricity infrastructures, adding to the development benefits of these types of projects.”