Mozambique Oil & Gas: President replaces energy minister

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has sacked four ministers, including the one with the mining and energy portfolio,  Leticia Klemens, after less than two years in office, the President Office said late on Tuesday, without giving a reason.

Energy is a key portfolio in Mozambique, which has vast untapped offshore gas reserves that are being developed by oil majors such as Italy’s Eni.

Nyusi’s office also said today that Ernesto Max Elias Tonela had replaced Leticia da Silva Klemens as minister of energy and mineral resources after less than two years in office.

Max Tonela, the new energy minister, previously served as commerce minister. An economist by training, Tonela has also worked previously on the board of the Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) company responsible for Mozambique’s 2,000 megawatt hydroelectric dam.