Africa-Press – Mozambique. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) met with HE Carlos Zacarias, the newly elected Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mozambique, to discuss the role that the country’s gas has and continues to play in making energy poverty becomes history in Africa. With Mozambique eager to resume activities on large-scale gas projects, improve local content and energy transition thanks to advances in the energy sector, both the ACS and the minister pledged to work together to increase investment, boost development and drive sustainable economic growth. in southern Africa.
The AEC delegation, led by Chief Executive NJ Ayuk, met with the minister to discuss the Mozambique gas miracle and the steps that need to be taken to get development back on track. With major global companies declaring force majeure in 2021 and suspending project activities due to the insurgency in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, where TotalEnergies’ 13 million tonne onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) project and ExxonMobil’s 15 million tonne Rovuma LNG liquefaction plant. , the government is focused on resuming these projects. In this sense, the discussions focused on the role played by Mozambican gas both in Africa and internationally. With Europe urgently seeking alternative gas supplies to alleviate dependence on Russian energy, and more than 600 million people currently living without access to electricity in Africa, gas from Mozambique could help meet demand both regionally and globally. international. During the meeting, the minister emphasized this very point, strongly defending the monetization of gas and domestic use above all else.
Republic of Mozambique Pipeline Company’s 865 km pipeline
In line with these discussions, the role of the Republic of Mozambique Pipeline Company’s (ROMPCO) 865 km pipeline, connecting Mozambique’s gas-rich Pande and Temane fields with South Africa’s Secunda facility, was discussed. With South Africa looking to quickly escape from using natural gas in an effort to diversify its energy mix beyond coal, Mozambique’s resources will prove critical. Consequently, the accelerated development of projects in Cabo Delgado will not only improve domestic utilization and access to energy, but also regionally, with the expansion of the ROMPCO pipeline as a key driver of these objectives.
Meanwhile, with the European Union declaring certain natural gas projects green, the role of Mozambique’s resources in driving Africa’s transition to cleaner fuel sources has been emphasized. Due to its low emissions and wide availability, gas will not only be critical to mitigating climate change, but also to ensuring that energy poverty becomes history by 2030.
“The AEC believes in Mozambique and in Mozambican energy. As the continent moves forward in maximizing and monetizing natural gas, Mozambique cannot be left behind but must take a leadership role in positioning Africa as a competitive gas economy. Therefore, it is critical that the government and all actors in the country get large-scale projects back on track. The AEC will work closely with HE Zacarias as he works to grow the sector. The minister is committed to securing and encouraging more investment in the country and wants to be a partner for the current players, helping them to grow in Mozambique”, says Ayuk,
Finally, the meeting emphasized the need for Mozambique to scale up SME development, with both the ACS and the minister making strong arguments in favor of local business-led energy expansion. Despite the role that the global oil majors play in driving the development of large-scale projects, Mozambique’s domestic market and workforce have a critical role to play in the oil and gas industry, ensuring inclusion and equal opportunities will be key. In this regard, the minister focuses on local content and capacity building throughout the energy value chain, ensuring that Mozambicans lead the development of the country’s energy sector. Therefore, the ACS will support Mozambique in its efforts to boost the internal market, ensuring mutually beneficial economic growth in the years to come.
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