The National Petroleum Institute (INP) announced that it is strengthening its technical capacity for the supervision of the upstream sector (the exploration and production phase of natural resources) as part of a new cycle of cooperation with the Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD), the government agency responsible for the management and regulation of oil and mineral resources on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
According to a statement cited by the Mozambique Information Agency, the initiative stems from a series of technical meetings between the INP and the NOD, as part of the implementation of the bilateral Energy for Development (EfD) program, launched in 2023, which aims to raise regulatory standards and align the national oil sector with international requirements.
“The central objective is to establish a results-oriented roadmap, consolidating regulatory excellence and addressing global challenges in the oversight of natural resource exploration and production. The meetings involved officials from the Ministries of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME) and of Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries (MAAP), reflecting an integrated approach to energy sector governance,” the agency stated.
In the document, the INP noted that cooperation between Mozambican and Norwegian institutions has played a decisive role in strengthening the country, contributing to the enhancement of technical capacity and the promotion of good governance practices throughout the entire value chain of the extractive sector.
“Energy for Development marks the adaptation to a new global context, characterized by growing demands regarding sustainability, decarbonization, and the integration of renewable energy. Another key technical priority is the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with a particular focus on methane mitigation and strengthening environmental compliance in oil operations,” it stated.
Mentioned in the statement, Dércio Monteiro, Director of Inspection and Safety at the INP, emphasized that the meetings were productive “and marked by a spirit of openness among the parties, which will help strengthen the country in terms of institutional development, resource management, and energy transition.”
He also emphasized that, although the new approach prioritizes the environmental component—including solutions such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)—the EfD program aligns with the guidelines of Mozambique’s National Strategy for a Just Energy Transition, a guiding framework that sets targets and priorities for carbon neutrality by 2050.
“NOD advocates for clear, predictable, and transparent legal frameworks, combined with effective regulation, in order to help reduce risks, strengthen confidence, and create a more attractive environment for private investment and support from international partners,” he said.
The EfD program is expected to run until 2027, with the possibility of extension, and among the expected outcomes are immediate gains in the INP’s technical capacity, particularly in regulatory excellence, upstream supervision, resource management, and the integration of decarbonization targets into the development of the oil sector.
