Local content must be at the centre of Mozambique’s hydrocarbon development strategy to ensure that the country’s resources generate prosperity in Mozambique.
This position was defended on Wednesday (11 November) in Maputo by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Hydrocarbon Company (ENH), Rudêncio Morais, during his contribution to the session entitled “Energy Leaders’ Dialogue – The African Gas Opportunity: Turning Resources into Prosperity”, held as part of the Africa Gas & LNG Summit.
In his address, Morais emphasised that the value of natural resources cannot be measured solely by their potential for extraction, but must also focus on generating knowledge and creating lasting value for the country.
“The true wealth of our natural resources is measured not only by their potential to be exploited, but above all by our ability to transform them into economic development, knowledge and prosperity for the country,” he said.
To achieve this goal, the executive identified several strategic priorities: training and developing the skills of Mozambican personnel to meet the technological demands of the sector; infrastructure to connect gas to markets; building the capacity and strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and linking the hydrocarbons sector with other key areas of the economy, such as agriculture, logistics and services. In this regard, he highlighted the importance of initiatives such as the Linkar Programme, implemented by ENH with the aim of promoting national participation in the industry.
The enactment of the new Local Content Law (Law No. 9/2026) was highlighted as a decisive regulatory milestone in putting this vision into practice, with the priority now shifting to its rigorous implementation, supported by transparent metrics.
“With the new Local Content Law, Mozambique has a legal framework that reinforces this ambition. The major challenge now lies in its effective implementation, with rigour, accountability and concrete, measurable results,” he stressed.
Morais reiterated ENH’s commitment to promoting the integration of national companies into the energy industry’s value chain, while issuing an appeal to international investors. “Natural resources are finite, but the knowledge, skills and capabilities we develop can constitute a lasting asset for Mozambique. Our invitation is therefore clear: investing in Mozambique means investing not only in its natural resources, but also in its companies, its skills and, above all, its human capital,” he concluded.
In addition to ENH’s Chairman of the Board, the session included Tony Attah, Managing Director of Renaissance Energy Company Limited; Paul Eardley-Taylor, Head of Oil & Gas Coverage for Southern Africa at Standard Bank; Johanna Boothey, Chairperson of the Board of ExxonMobil Mozambique; Sibthayn Rajab, Senior Vice-President for Integrated Gas and Ekandustria at Sasol, South Africa; Artur Custódio, Member of the Board of Directors of Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG); Gregory Goldberg, Senior Vice-President, Commercial, at Golar LNG, Nigeria; and Jean-Pascal Clémençon, Chairman of TotalEnergies Mozambique.
