On Thursday, October 16, Algeria committed to assisting Mozambique in expanding its domestic gas distribution network, training professionals in hydrocarbon exploration and production, and supporting the construction of the energy distribution network. This understanding comes from a set of agreements signed in Maputo between institutions from both countries.
The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Estêvão Pale, explained that the National Hydrocarbons Company (ENH) signed a memorandum with the Algerian oil company SONATRACH, which will allow Mozambique to gain experience in production and intervention along the oil and gas value chain. According to the minister, the country needs to “expand the natural gas distribution network for domestic consumption” and develop “industrial projects based on natural gas.”
SONATRACH will also share its expertise in providing services across the oil value chain, including seismic surveys, drilling, operations, and maintenance. This collaboration aims to strengthen Mozambique’s technical and operational capacity in the energy sector, benefiting from Algeria’s internationally recognized knowledge and experience.
The Chairperson of ENH, Ludovina Bernardo, stated that Mozambique intends to advance its cooking gas distribution network, noting that the number of consumers is still limited. “We have the transport area; we want to learn from Algeria about the international market, how to monetize this gas, and how to industrialize the country,” she said.
Bernardo also emphasized the importance of training and institutional capacity building for operating in the hydrocarbon industry. “We must be prepared, with skilled personnel for project development, which means we need geologists, geophysicists, and chemical engineers. With Algeria, we will learn to operate more effectively,” she added.
Beyond oil and gas, the two countries agreed to cooperate in health, energy, and the business sector. In energy, Estêvão Pale revealed that the agreement between Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and the Algerian Energy and Gas Company (SONELGAZ) includes support for energy transport, construction and modernization of power plants, and the creation of an industrial park for electrical equipment production.
The Chairperson of EDM, Joaquim Ou-Chim, announced the planned construction of a 40.2-megawatt power plant in Mozambique. “We will establish with them a factory for high-demand electrical materials and cooperate in training. Algeria has good technical schools in the field of electricity,” he stated.
In the health sector, the National Regulatory Authority for Medicines and the Algerian pharmaceutical company SAIDAL will cooperate on staff training and technology transfer. Meanwhile, the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA) and the Algerian Council for Economic Renaissance (CREIA) will promote experience sharing and business opportunities, particularly in the hydrocarbon sector.
Source: Lusa
