During the Gold Standard Award for Excellence in Transparency 2025 ceremony, held this Wednesday (22) in Maputo, the National Petroleum Institute (INP) publicly acknowledged being under constant pressure from multiple fronts — including the Government, civil society, and industry concessionaires. The statement was made by Inocência Macuvule, representing the regulatory authority on behalf of the Chairman of the Board, who was absent due to professional commitments.
“If there’s any entity under pressure in this sector, it’s the National Petroleum Institute. We are pressured from all sides — by the Government itself, by society, by our regulated entities — and that’s a good thing, because it is this pressure that compels us to fulfil our mandate: to ensure that petroleum resources serve the collective interest of Mozambican society,” said Macuvule.
She reiterated the INP’s role as the regulatory body for petroleum operations in Mozambique, stressing that all projects are awarded through widely publicized international public tenders, technically evaluated by multisectoral teams that include, among others, the Ministries of Interior, Defense, Finance, and Mineral Resources.
The event, organized by the Center for Public Integrity (CIP), also served as a platform for the announcement of the results of the 5th edition of the Extractive Sector Transparency Index (ITSE). The ceremony highlighted Kenmare Resources as the recipient of the Gold Standard Award, while Sasol Petroleum Temane earned 1st place in the overall ranking, along with an honorable mention for its progress in environmental transparency.
This year’s index reflects growing public demand for accountability among companies operating in the mining and petroleum sectors. The overall performance average stood at 17.98%, with the fiscal component showing the weakest results. Within this context, the INP reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and the rigorous selection of operators, prioritizing integrity and technical competence.
Macuvule also revealed that the sixth public tender for the allocation of exploration areas has been completed, pending approval from the Administrative Court for the signing of five new contracts. She added that the seventh tender could be launched in the coming years, depending on government directives and energy transition requirements.
“We have a model that foresees tenders every two years. We haven’t managed to maintain that frequency, but we believe that, with government guidance, we will move forward soon,” she stated.
At the same time, she acknowledged the constraints caused by insecurity in certain regions, which hinder the implementation of high-value projects within Mozambique’s mainland. Nevertheless, the INP reaffirmed its mission to ensure that the country’s natural resources are used to promote national development in an environment of responsibility, oversight, and transparency.
Text by: Felisberto Ruco
