President Daniel Chapo has declared that Mozambique is entering a new phase of its energy industry, one in which hydrocarbon extraction will be channelled into industrialisation, job creation, and the development of domestic companies, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reported on Monday, 21 July.
Speaking at the opening of the Rio Oil and Gas Forum 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, President Chapo outlined the investment opportunities available in Mozambique and invited Brazilian companies to participate in the development of the country’s energy industry and the value chains linked to its natural resources.
The head of state argued that oil and gas resources must generate benefits beyond export revenues, specifically through electricity generation, fertiliser and petrochemical production, and the development of agriculture, agribusiness, and new industries.
“We want to produce and export energy, but above all we want to use it to industrialise Mozambique, increase domestic production, develop agriculture and agribusiness, produce fertilisers, supply new industries, and create jobs,” he said.
Chapo also called for an energy transition calibrated to Africa’s development needs, arguing that the continent requires more energy to industrialise, deliver electricity to households, power factories, and produce fertilisers.
“The energy transition cannot mean a transition without energy,” the President said, contending that a just transition must account for the reality of countries where millions of people still face limited access to electricity.
In that context, he described natural gas as part of a “pragmatic and responsible” energy transition, maintaining that environmental sustainability must advance in parallel with economic and social development.
Chapo also announced a new round of acreage offerings for hydrocarbon exploration and production, underpinned by more robust geological data and a regulatory framework that, he said, has been modernised to make the sector more predictable for investors.
The President highlighted the new Petroleum Law, approved in June, citing its principal objectives as legal predictability, fiscal stability, regulatory transparency, and investor protection.
According to Chapo, the legislation establishes a minimum quota of 25% of oil and gas output for the domestic market and for industrialisation purposes. The resources are expected to contribute to electricity generation, fertiliser and petrochemical production, and the supply of new industries.
Local content was also presented as one of the priorities of the new energy strategy. The President advocated greater participation by domestic companies in supply chains, accompanied by technology transfer and the development of local capabilities.
“For Mozambique, exporting gas is part of the outcome, not the complete outcome,” he stressed, adding that the value of the country’s resources must also be measured by the electricity generated, the factories supplied, the jobs created, and the national companies developed.
More partnerships between Mozambican and Brazilian companies
Daniel Chapo identified Brazil as a partner with relevant experience for this phase, highlighting competencies in deepwater operations, subsea systems, large-project engineering, manufacturing, offshore logistics, maintenance, and supplier chain development.
“We are not looking merely for suppliers. We are looking for partners,” Chapo said, advocating the formation of joint ventures, consortia, and associations between Mozambican and Brazilian companies that combine international technology and expertise with local knowledge.
In that context, he welcomed the memorandum of understanding signed between Petrobras and the Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH), describing the agreement as potentially opening the way for a more significant presence by the Brazilian oil company in Mozambique.
Chapo further stated that energy projects currently under development represent approximately US$50 billion in investment, arguing that the exploitation of those resources must enable Mozambique to build a more diversified industrial base and generate knowledge, companies, jobs, and new economic opportunities.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/22/oilgas/pr-quer-transformar-gas-e-petroleo-em-industrializacao-e-empregos/
