Mozambican Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levi opened the inaugural Africa Gas & LNG Summit 2026 in Maputo by asserting that the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves must generate direct wealth for its population. According to Club of Mozambique, Levi emphasized that exploiting these resources should move beyond simple export revenues to become a driver of broader economic transformation and industrial development. She stated that the government is actively creating conditions to convert this resource potential into tangible benefits for citizens, focusing on the strengthening of national productive capacities and the dynamization of local businesses.
The Prime Minister highlighted the recent passage and execution of updated laws governing mining, oil, and domestic participation as central to this strategy. Club of Mozambique reported that Levi described this legal structure as a reflection of the government’s determination to ensure that energy sector growth is accompanied by the creation of decent and sustainable employment opportunities. She noted that these measures aim to consolidate a structured institutional environment focused on concrete results, while also promoting greater transparency and predictability in decision-making to provide a competitive business environment for investors.
Mozambique currently has three major projects approved for monetizing the significant gas deposits located in the Rovuma Basin of Cabo Delgado province. In addition to the Coral Sul facility, which has been active since 2022, and the Coral Norte development, the initiatives led by TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil are progressing on the Afungi Peninsula. Club of Mozambique noted that the latter project is currently awaiting a final investment decision. Levi argued that these projects should contribute to building the capabilities and improving the expertise of local professionals, particularly young people and women, while supporting the development of nearby communities.
Addressing investors and industry representatives, Levi reiterated the country’s openness to private capital and technological innovation. She stated that Mozambique is open to new partnerships and business initiatives that promote value creation based on shared responsibility and mutual benefits. According to Club of Mozambique, the Prime Minister viewed natural gas as a strategic asset for expanding electricity generation and deepening the integration of regional energy markets, arguing that the sector’s success would depend on its capacity to generate economic connections across national and regional boundaries.