The multinational ExxonMobil is funding the training of 120 young Mozambicans in the energy sector, as part of an initiative aimed at strengthening national expertise in the oil and gas sectors, according to the Mozambique News Agency (AIM).
The beneficiaries, aged between 13 and 15, will join the Personal and Academic Empowerment Program (PEPA), implemented by the organization Tsemba Life, joining 279 other students supported since 2025.
According to ExxonMobil’s general manager in Mozambique, Tina Mucavele, the program offers training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, combined with the development of soft skills.
“They also receive tutoring and remedial classes throughout the year. We seek to integrate employability, personal development, and entrepreneurial thinking, ensuring that young people are not only prepared for employment but also equipped to create opportunities and adapt to a constantly evolving world,” she said.
In addition to academic training, scholarship recipients benefit from a comprehensive package that includes tuition coverage, school supplies, mentoring, and social support. The program also includes volunteer activities, with the aim of fostering a sense of social responsibility and solidarity among participants.
The selection criteria require Mozambican citizenship, an age between 13 and 25, and enrollment—or the intention to enroll—in pre-selected technical-vocational or university institutions. This year, the initiative includes 63 students from the Palma district, 30 from the districts of Chiúre, Balama, and Montepuez, as well as 27 students from Lúrio University in Pemba and Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo.
ExxonMobil, one of the world’s largest energy companies, has been consolidating its presence in Mozambique through the development of the Rovuma LNG project, considered strategic for the exploration and export of natural gas in the Rovuma Basin.
In this context, the expectation of a final investment decision in the second half of 2026 represents a decisive milestone for the project’s continuity, valued at approximately $22 billion. This progress follows the lifting of the force majeure declaration and reflects a gradual recovery in investor confidence, supported by improvements in security conditions in Cabo Delgado and strengthened cooperation between the government and the oil company.
