Energy projects under development in the Rovuma Basin, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, represent a combined estimated investment of more than $50 billion, President Daniel Chapo announced on Wednesday in Maputo during the opening of the Mozambique CEO Summit 2026, a forum bringing together business leaders, investors and policymakers to discuss investment opportunities and economic development in Mozambique.
According to the head of state, the Coral Sul FLNG and Coral Norte projects, led by Italian energy major Eni, the Mozambique LNG project developed by TotalEnergies, and ExxonMobil’s Rovuma LNG collectively reinforce international confidence in Mozambique’s energy potential and mark a new stage in the country’s economic development.
President Chapo argued that these investments must deliver results that extend well beyond the export of liquefied natural gas. “The government’s objective is to use these large projects as a platform to accelerate industrialisation, increase national productive capacity, create skilled employment and strengthen the Mozambican business sector,” he said.
The president added that investments in the Rovuma Basin should promote the training of national professionals, stimulate the participation of Mozambican companies in supply chains, and contribute to the economic development of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In his view, the country’s energy potential could position Mozambique as an important regional hub for energy production and distribution.
In this context, Chapo argued that greater energy availability could create conditions to attract investment in digital infrastructure, including data processing centres and technologies associated with artificial intelligence, contending that this focus would help diversify the national economic base.
The head of state reiterated that large-scale investments must establish effective linkages with the domestic economy. “Projects must create opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, promote knowledge transfer, respect local communities, protect the environment, and fully comply with Mozambican legislation,” he stressed.
Chapo also highlighted the approval of a new Local Content Law as a fundamental instrument to ensure that a significant share of the economic benefits generated by these projects remains in the country. According to the president, local content should not be treated as an administrative requirement but rather as a development policy.
“Local content must not be seen as an administrative requirement, but as a development policy designed to strengthen national companies, upskill the Mozambican workforce and increase citizens’ participation in the wealth generated by natural resources,” he said. The president added that the government’s strategy involves the responsible use of energy resources, diversification of the energy mix, expansion of renewable energy, and increased access to energy across the national territory.
For Chapo, the investments under way in the Rovuma Basin represent a historic opportunity to transform Mozambique’s energy potential into sustainable economic development. The president argued that the success of these projects will depend on the capacity to generate added value, promote local content, and ensure that the benefits of natural gas translate into greater employment, improved competitiveness, and better living conditions for Mozambicans.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/23/oilgas/bacia-do-rovuma-projectos-energeticos-somam-mais-de-50-mm-em-investimentos/
