Sasol Mozambique’s managing director, Sónia Matsinhe, argued on Tuesday that business competitiveness depends, above all else, on the availability of reliable energy, resilient infrastructure and efficient logistics, describing these three elements as the foundation for sustainable economic growth.
Matsinhe was speaking at the 21st Annual Private Sector Conference (CASP 2026), during a panel session dedicated to the theme ‘Infrastructure, Logistics and Energy: The Foundation of Business Competitiveness’.
She stated that while factors such as financing, innovation and talent are important, ‘competitiveness begins when companies have the confidence that they will be able to produce, operate and get their products to market efficiently’.
The Sasol executive explained that the company’s experience in Mozambique illustrates the importance of integrating these elements. She noted that Sasol operates an infrastructure network comprising approximately 50 kilometres of pipelines connecting wellheads to a central processing unit in Temane, in Inhambane Province.
From Temane, natural gas is transported via pipeline to South Africa, while condensate and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are transported by road to supply the domestic market.
According to Matsinhe, Sasol has contributed to Mozambique’s energy security for more than two decades, supplying natural gas that powers the thermoelectric power stations at Ressano Garcia, Maputo and Temane, which together represent 452 megawatts of installed capacity. ‘More than producing energy, these investments create conditions for other companies to produce, invest and grow — in their respective sectors. When we talk about enabling conditions, we frequently ask what infrastructure we need,’ she said.
Matsinhe also highlighted the impact of a new project developed under a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) licence, whose central processing unit recently became operational. ‘When it reaches full capacity, the infrastructure will produce approximately 23 million gigajoules of natural gas per year — enough to generate around 450 megawatts of electricity,’ she said.
She added: ‘The project will also make approximately 30,000 tonnes of LPG available annually for the domestic market, reducing dependence on imports, while producing around 4,000 barrels per day of light crude oil for export.’
In her address, Matsinhe argued that the true value of infrastructure lies not only in its physical scale but in its capacity to drive economic development. ‘Building a competitive environment depends on a strong partnership between government, the private sector and communities, underpinned by a long-term vision capable of promoting the growth of businesses and, consequently, of the Mozambican economy,’ she concluded.
The 21st CASP 2026, held under the theme ‘Produce, Transform and Compete: Building a Strong and Resilient Economy’, is taking place on 14 and 15 July in Maputo. The conference brings together government representatives, business leaders, business associations, development partners, financial institutions, academics and experts, with the objective of deepening public-private dialogue, assessing compliance with recommendations from the previous edition, and identifying reforms, investments and opportunities to strengthen domestic production, local transformation and economic competitiveness.
The programme includes panel sessions on infrastructure, logistics and energy, digital transformation, agribusiness and food security, tourism, industrialisation and local content, human capital, access to external markets, SME financing, business resilience and improvements to the business environment. The event also features bilateral sessions between Mozambique and Japan and between Mozambique and China, as well as dedicated spaces for the presentation of investment opportunities and business partnerships.
Source: Diário Económico
