Communication - Presse

Mozambique: State open to Russian bids in 6th licensing round

The Mozambican government in Moscow on Thursday invited Russian oil companies to participate in the 6th licensing round,  due to be launched in December, for the development of projects in the sector in the  country.

The chairman of Mozambique’s National Oil Institute (INP), Carlos Zacarias told journalists that the country would be open to evaluating proposals for the concession of hydrocarbon exploration blocks from Russian companies such as Gazprom, Rosneft and Zarubezhneft and from oil companies from other countries taking part in the 6th licensing round.

Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Max Tonela held meetings in Moscow with  executives from all three companies:  Zarubezhneft, Gazprom and Rosneft, O Páis reports. Carlos Zacarias accompanied Minister Tonela in these meetings.

“These companies, Zarubezhneft, Rozhneft and Gasprom, were invited to join investment opportunities in Mozambique, including in the licensing round which  we are going to launch. Rozhneft is a little more advanced, as it has a concession of part of Angoche”, he stated.

Zacarias advanced that the country will continue to promote its potential in the area of hydrocarbons, mainly gas, because this resource is important for the energy transition, as it is the least polluting of the fossil fuels.

“There are already predefined areas for the next international hydrocarbon tender in the country,” he said.

Mozambique already has the presence of several multinational oil sector companies, mainly in the Rovuma basin, an area rich in natural gas.

Despite growing international pressure to abandon the use of fossil fuels, the Mozambican government argues that natural gas will be a crucial source for the energy transition as it is the least polluting of the fossil fuels.

A delegation from the Mozambican Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy is in Russia for the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process, an international mechanism for controlling the diamond business, which will decide on Mozambique’s membership of that body.

The delegation is also due to meet with Russian companies from the mineral resources and energy sector.

Source: https://clubofmozambique.com/news/mozambique-state-open-to-russian-bids-in-6th-licensing-round-204556/