Sasol used the second edition of the Mozambique Tourism Summit, held in Vilankulo, to present the contribution of its energy, social infrastructure, and enterprise development investments to Mozambique’s economic diversification. The company’s president and CEO, Simon Baloyi, argued that gas projects can create the conditions for growth in other sectors, including tourism.
The summit took place on 5 and 6 November under the theme ‘Mozambique: Where Africa Reinvents Itself’. A partner since the inaugural edition in 2025, Sasol participated this year as Energy Supporting Partner.
According to a statement sent to Diário Económico, Baloyi presented investments of more than US$100 million in social projects and approximately US$760 million in a project developed under a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), aimed, among other objectives, at reinforcing gas supply to the domestic market.
On the second day, during the ‘Strategic Investment’ panel, he explained how investments in the energy sector can benefit tourism and other economic activities.
“The true value of strategic investment goes beyond the project itself. It lies in the opportunities it creates, the capabilities it develops, the businesses it strengthens, and the communities it transforms. This is how we convert Mozambique’s natural resources into lasting economic benefits, creating conditions for the sustainable growth of tourism and other sectors of the economy,” he said.
On energy, Baloyi noted that gas from the Pande and Temane fields supplies five thermal power stations with a combined capacity of 452 megawatts (MW). The commissioning of the Temane Thermal Power Station, with 450 MW of capacity, is expected to raise the total gas-fired generation capacity from these fields to 902 MW.
The approximately US$760 million PSA project investment is designed to secure gas for the domestic market, including supply to the power station, and to produce liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for household consumption.
In the social sphere, the more than US$100 million presented by the company covers health, education, water, and sanitation infrastructure, as well as employment readiness programmes. Examples cited include the Nhamacunda Medical Centre in Vilankulo, which Sasol identifies as a reference facility for the treatment of tourists in the region, and the Inhassoro District Hospital, still under construction, representing an investment of approximately US$9 million.
On enterprise support, the company highlighted its local content programme and the recent ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification of 11 Mozambican small and medium-sized enterprises.
In northern Inhambane, the link to tourism also runs through the supply of piped gas. According to Sasol, the gas it produces and processes is distributed by Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH) to more than 3,000 consumers — including residences, businesses, hotels, and lodges — across the districts of Vilankulo, Inhassoro, and Govuro, and extends to the Bazaruto Archipelago.
Baloyi attributed these results to cooperation with the government, ENH, other partners, and local communities. He argued that investments require lasting partnerships, trust, credible demand, and viable economic conditions.
Tourism and Economic Diversification
At the opening of the summit, President of the Republic Daniel Chapo highlighted tourism as an activity capable of diversifying the economy, attracting investment, and creating employment. He called for stronger infrastructure, greater use of local content, and broader private-sector participation to extend the benefits to communities.
On the same occasion, he announced that the third edition of the Mozambique Tourism Summit will take place on 4 and 5 November 2027.
For Sasol, supporting the event provides an opportunity to engage in the debate on economic diversification in Inhambane, where it conducts its operations, and on the opportunities that tourism can create for local suppliers, workers, and communities.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=560230
