Mozambique to host gas summit

Mozambique is to host a summit entitled Unleashing Mozambiques Vast Gas Potential in Maputo from March 12 to 14.

The summit is being organised by the London-based CWC group in conjunction with Mozambiques publicly owned National Hydrocarbons Company (ENH).

The main speaker will be the Minister of Mineral Resources, Esperanca Bias, with the keynote address being made by the Chairman of ENH, Nelson Ocuane, reports Mozambican news agency AIM.

Among the themes being discussed are the need to incorporate local content as the gas industry develops, and the current legal framework for the hydrocarbons industry.

The summit will also look at forthcoming exploration and licensing rounds, partnerships and joint ventures, and logistical challenges. It will also hold a session on the role of international finance.

There will also be a session dedicated to the issue of how the gas could be used within Mozambique to assist economic development through fertiliser and petrochemicals plants or domestic power options.

Recent discoveries in the Rovuma Basin off the coast of the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado have already indicated the existence of over 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. This would be enough to make Mozambique one of the world’s largest gas producers.

The Texas-based Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in November revealed that it could be looking at producing 50 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per annum from its concession in the Rovuma Basin.

That alone would make Mozambique the third largest exporter of liquefied natural gas after Qatar and Australia.

Gas is currently being produced from the Pande and Temane fields in the southern province of Inhambane, but the Rovuma resources will not be on stream until 2018 at the earliest.