Mozambique's Tax Authority (AT) and Italian energy company Eni have harmonised the customs procedures applicable to oil and gas operations in Area 4 of the Rovuma Basin, with the aim of ensuring greater clarity, predictability and efficiency in the sector's customs processes.
The agreement emerged from a working meeting held in Pemba, Cabo Delgado province, between AT President Aníbal Mbalango and managers from Coral Sul FLNG, the operator conducting activities in Area 4 of the Rovuma Basin.
At the centre of the discussions was the entry into force of Decree No. 27/2026, of 1 July, which amends Decree No. 37/2023, of 29 December, on the general rules for customs clearance. The amendment includes the schedule of fees applicable to customs services and other services provided by customs authorities.
Under the application of the new legislation, Coral Sul FLNG was directed to formalise a customs facilitation agreement with the AT in accordance with the law. The mechanism is intended to establish clearer and more predictable procedures for Area 4 operations and to reduce potential bottlenecks in customs processes.
For Aníbal Mbalango, the effective implementation of the new rules also requires strengthening the technical capacity of AT staff who oversee sector operations. In this regard, he welcomed Coral Sul FLNG's willingness to deepen institutional cooperation.
The company is expected to promote training and upskilling activities for AT officials who provide assistance to platform operations. According to the AT president, continuous capacity-building is important to ensure a more prepared and efficient engagement, given the technical and operational complexity of the oil and gas industry.
Mbalango also advocated for regular meetings between the AT, Coral Sul FLNG and other operators in the Rovuma Basin. The dialogue is intended to allow challenges to be anticipated, procedures to be harmonised and solutions to be found before any divergences affect operations.
"The AT is open to dialogue and to building solutions. Where there is a need for clarification or harmonisation, we will be available to work with operators, always within the law and safeguarding the interests of the State," he said.
For the AT, facilitating economic activity does not mean setting aside compliance with fiscal and customs obligations, but rather ensuring that process simplification is accompanied by respect for the law, transparency and procedural clarity. Coral Sul FLNG managers also expressed willingness to deepen cooperation and information sharing, in a context where customs predictability is considered essential for operations in the Rovuma Basin.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/24/oilgas/area-4-at-e-eni-alinham-procedimentos-aduaneiros/
