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Mozambique to Explore Gas Reserves to Capture Carbon Dioxide

Mozambique to Explore Gas Reserves to Capture Carbon Dioxide

Mozambique intends to take advantage of the reservoirs created by the extraction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂), according to the National Maritime Spatial Planning Plan (POEM).

According to an article published on Wednesday 15 January by Carbon Herald, the plan was drawn up in 2021 and approved at the end of 2024, and aims to promote carbon capture projects, reconciling LNG operations with environmental benefits. CO₂, the main greenhouse gas, can be reduced in the atmosphere through capture, helping to combat climate change.

The country’s LNG reserves, exploited by multinationals such as TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil and Eni, have an estimated revenue potential of 100 billion dollars, according to a 2024 study by consultancy firm Deloitte, which predicts that Mozambique could be among the world’s top ten LNG producers by 2040, accounting for 20 per cent of African production.

The POEM emphasises the need for legislative and administrative frameworks for hydrocarbon exploration, while addressing environmental impacts and conflicts with local activities such as fishing and tourism. The plan also proposes reducing the ecological effects of industrial and urban infrastructure in coastal areas.

Preserving maritime and cultural heritage

In addition to carbon capture, the plan emphasises the importance of the country’s maritime resources, which cover 572,000 km², including 4600 km² of conservation areas. These areas face challenges such as overfishing, pollution and extreme weather events.

With 2700 km of coastline, Mozambique has sandy beaches, mangroves, coral reefs and estuaries, considered to be the most valuable natural resources. The POEM includes the preservation of cultural heritage and advocates the ratification of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, taking into account the more than 300 shipwrecks off the Mozambican coast.

Meanwhile, the country plans to develop maritime tourism with activities such as shipwreck diving and the exploration of underwater archaeological discoveries, especially in the region of Ilha de Moçambique, in Nampula, in the north.

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