Maputo, 21 September (AIM) — The President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, launched this Monday in Rio de Janeiro a direct invitation to Brazilian investors and companies to participate in the new stage of development of the Mozambican oil and gas sector.
The challenge was presented at the opening of the Rio Forum on Oil and Gas 2026, organized by the Brazilian Institute of Oil, Gas and Biofuels (IBP), where the Head of State was the keynote speaker.
More than just a way to attract capital for hydrocarbon exploration, Chapo advocated for a partnership capable of generating industrialization, technology transfer, labour training and strengthening Mozambican companies.
In his speech, the President highlighted Brazil’s experience in areas such as deep-sea exploration, engineering, logistics and supply chain development, as an opportunity to deepen cooperation between the two countries.
” Today, the challenge for our generation is to add a new dimension to this bridge: energy, technology, investment and prosperity for our people,” he said.
This commitment is particularly important at a time when Mozambique and Brazil are seeking to give a new dimension to a relationship marked by close historical, cultural and diplomatic ties. In 2025, the two countries will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations.
Chapo presented Brazilian investors with the energy potential of Mozambique, estimated at about 180 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, of which about 133 trillion are considered recoverable.
In addition to this potential, hydro, solar and wind resources, which, according to the President, offer the country the opportunity to diversify its energy mix and accelerate its economic development.
In the Rovuma basin, the Coral Sul, Coral Norte, Mozambique LNG and Rovuma LNG projects represent investments estimated at about US$50 billion, thus consolidating this region as one of the main borders of the Mozambican energy industry.
But the president made it clear that the government’s ambitions go beyond gas extraction and export.
According to Chapo, this new phase should link energy resources to industrialization, agriculture, fertilizer production and job creation, in order to ensure that more of the value generated by natural resources remains within the national economy.
It was during the debate on the energy transition that Chapo sought to convey one of the main messages of his speech.
According to the President, reducing dependence on fossil fuels should not ignore the energy needs of developing African countries.
” Energy transition cannot mean a transition without energy. There will be no truly fair transition if we build a world of clean energy for some and energy insecurity for others. »
In this context, it has defended the role of natural gas as an instrument to meet the development needs of Mozambique and Africa, in a transition that it believes must reconcile environmental sustainability, access to electricity and economic growth.
The Head of State also announced that Mozambique is preparing a new phase of offering areas for hydrocarbon research and exploration.
This initiative, he explained, will be supported by more reliable geological and geophysical information and a modernised regulatory framework to make the Mozambican market more predictable and attractive to investors.
Chapo also highlighted the adoption in June of this year of the Oil Act, which, he said, aims to strengthen legal predictability, fiscal stability and regulatory transparency, as well as investor protection.
The new framework should also preserve acquired rights and safeguard the national interest.
Another central element of the President’s strategy is local content.
Chapo called for increased participation of Mozambican companies in the energy industry value chain through partnerships with foreign companies, vocational training and technology transfer.
In this context, the Memorandum of Understanding between Petróleo Brasileiro (Peterobras) and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH) was drawn up.
The President welcomed the agreement and expressed the hope that it could pave the way for a larger Petrobras presence in Mozambique.
The rapprochement between the two companies could therefore be one of the gateways to wider cooperation between the energy sectors of the two countries.
In conclusion, Chapo addressed investors, financial institutions and technology partners, inviting them to explore the opportunities Mozambique intends to offer in the fields of hydrocarbon research and exploration, as well as industrial development.
According to the President, the aim is to build long-term partnerships with Brazil and other markets, transforming natural resources into productive capacity.
” We want to turn these resources into industry, knowledge, businesses, jobs and opportunities. »
(AIM)