Gas
Mozambique pushes for local benefits from gas reserves
Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levi told the Africa Gas & LNG Summit that natural gas must drive national economic transformation and wealth for citizens.
Key points
- Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levi addressed the Africa Gas & LNG Summit in Maputo.
- Mozambique is advancing major Rovuma Basin liquefied natural gas projects.
- New legislation aims to strengthen local content and regulatory predictability.
What happened
Mozambique's Prime Minister, Maria Benvinda Levi, emphasised the need for the nation's natural resources to improve living standards during her opening remarks at the inaugural Africa Gas & LNG Summit held in Maputo. According to Club of Mozambique reporting, the country currently oversees three major initiatives designed to monetise extensive gas deposits located within the Rovuma Basin of Cabo Delgado province.
Operational activities are already underway at the Coral Sul venture, which began production in 2022. Additional developments include the Coral Norte project alongside ventures spearheaded by TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil situated on the Afungi Peninsula, with the ExxonMobil initiative currently awaiting a final investment decision.
Regulatory updates
To support these industrial developments, the government has introduced new legal frameworks governing mining, petroleum, and local participation. Levi stated that these regulations are structured to enhance national industrial capabilities, foster domestic enterprise growth, and generate sustainable employment opportunities.
Furthermore, the updated legislation aims to build a predictable institutional environment, ensuring that investors encounter regulatory stability and transparent administrative processes. The administration also intends for these energy initiatives to bolster workforce competencies, specifically targeting professional development for women and youth.
Why it matters
For energy investors and African policymakers, balancing export revenues with domestic industrialisation remains a central challenge in resource-rich nations. According to World Bank figures from 2024, electricity access in Mozambique stood at 36.9 percent of the population, highlighting the domestic need for expanded energy infrastructure. Fuel exports accounted for 54.2 percent of merchandise exports in 2025, according to World Bank data, illustrating the heavy reliance on extractive commodities.
Leveraging natural gas for domestic power generation and industrial expansion could help address these structural deficits. By linking large-scale extraction projects with regional market integration and domestic capacity building, Mozambique aims to establish a model where hydrocarbon wealth translates into broader socio-economic advancement.
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.
