The organization Lionesses of Africa—an international platform supporting women’s entrepreneurship—in partnership with Standard Bank Mozambique, held an event on Tuesday, March 24, under the theme “Women in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Economy in Mozambique.” The meeting brought together businesswomen and experts to discuss opportunities and challenges for women’s participation in one of the most promising sectors.
On the occasion, the Chair of the Board of Directors (PCA) of Standard Bank Mozambique, Esselina Macome, highlighted that the initiative takes place during a month dedicated to women and is aligned with the international motto “Rights, Justice, and Action.” “We are called to act justly and to guarantee rights, not only for ourselves but for everyone around us,” she stated.
She emphasized that, although Mozambique possesses vast LNG reserves, the presence of women in the sector remains limited. “If we want to have rights and act as women, we must also establish ourselves in this area,” she said, pointing to the need for greater inclusion in technical and industrial fields.
Esselina Macome also argued that large-scale projects must translate into tangible benefits for the population. “It’s not enough to have large-scale projects if, at the end of the day, we don’t see the results,” she said, emphasizing the collective responsibility for managing natural resources.
Regarding the challenges, she highlighted access to financing, noting that this requires commitment from both sides. “This problem lies with both sides: those who provide the financing and those who request it. We must be prepared to receive it,” she explained, calling for capacity building, professionalism, and ethics in business development.
In turn, BioVision’s Director-General, Cláudia Oliveira, presented the company’s experience as a Mozambican consulting firm active in environmental and social areas within energy, oil, and infrastructure projects. “We want to ensure that projects don’t just work on paper, but also at the social and environmental levels,” she noted.
She also highlighted that the LNG supply chain includes not only large companies but also small and medium-sized enterprises. “We have small businesses throughout the entire supply chain,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge, respect for communities, and compliance with institutional requirements.
The event also featured insights from Fátima Selemane, a renewable energy leader and independent consultant, who spoke about her career in the energy sector, and from Leila Tarmsmad, founder of Conver Roller Solutions—a company specializing in industrial solutions—who discussed the challenges of starting a business in Mozambique. Both advocated for greater preparation, resilience, and confidence to strengthen the role of women in the national economy.
Source: Diário Económico
