Gas
Mozambique advances gas pipeline project for Southern Africa
Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos is seeking financial backing for a new pipeline infrastructure to supply regional markets.
Key points
- ENH is pursuing a 250 million US dollar pipeline project to connect northern gas resources to existing networks.
- The initiative aims to offset declining production from mature onshore fields currently serving South Africa.
- Petroleum legislation mandates a 25 percent domestic and regional market allocation for extracted hydrocarbons.
What happened
Mozambique's state energy firm, Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos, has initiated discussions with financial backers regarding a major transmission network expansion. According to the Pipeline Technology Journal, the proposed initiative requires an expenditure of 250 million US dollars and is designed to reinforce the nation's status as a regional energy supplier.
Rudêncio Morais, who leads ENH as chief executive, stated in an interview with Reuters that talks are underway with South Africa's Sasol and pipeline operator ROMPCO. The blueprint features a 140-kilometer link connecting coastal installations to the primary transmission grid that supplies the Secunda industrial zone in South Africa. Plans also incorporate floating storage and regasification facilities situated at Inhassoro and the Port of Beira.
What comes next
Existing exports rely on the Pande and Temane fields operated by Sasol, though reserves in these onshore locations face depletion within a few years. The upcoming infrastructure will channel offshore gas from the Rovuma Basin, where international energy corporations are advancing large-scale liquefied natural gas developments. ENH anticipates finalising the construction phase between 2030 and 2031, aligning with operational schedules for major ventures such as Coral North, Rovuma LNG, and Mozambique LNG.
While international shipments remain the primary focus for Rovuma Basin output, regulatory statutes established in June require operators to reserve at least 25 percent of production for domestic and regional consumers. This integration of new import terminals and legacy transmission lines is intended to secure long-term supply pathways for Southern Africa.
Why it matters
Cross-border energy integration remains a critical component of African infrastructure development. For investors and policymakers, Mozambique's strategy demonstrates how legislative mandates can successfully balance global export objectives with regional energy security requirements. World Bank figures indicate that fuel exports accounted for 54.2 percent of Mozambique's merchandise exports in 2025, underscoring the macroeconomic importance of the hydrocarbon sector. At the same time, domestic indicators show that access to electricity stood at 36.9 percent and clean cooking access at 8 percent in 2024, highlighting the ongoing challenge of translating upstream resource wealth into broad domestic socioeconomic benefits across Southern Africa.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
15.3% of electricity in Mozambique came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
