Mozambique’s state National Hydrocarbons Company (ENH) plans to build a gas refinery in in one of the provinces with the greatest potential in this resource, a project which will increase Mozambicans’ purchasing power.

The information was released on Saturday in Maputo by Omar Mithá, chairman of ENH’s Board of Directors, who said that the economic viability of the project was currently being analysed.

Omar Mithá spoke at the opening of the 3rd Meeting of the oil and gas sector Joint Cooperation Commission between ENH and China’s National Petroleum Company (CNPC).

Mithá said that the public tender for the construction of the gas refinery in Mozambique was launched last month, and that there was no doubt that the project would improve Mozambicans’ purchasing power.

Mithá said that, while waiting for the Rovuma gas, it would lay the groundwork for the raw material to be imported and refined in the country and afterwards sold and transported to countries inland.

According to Mithá, Mozambique would be able to benefit from the natural resources in its territory by adding value and charging premium prices.

The meeting of the oil and gas sector Joint Cooperation Commission between ENH and China’s National Petroleum Company (CNPC) was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two companies, and included the signing of a memorandum of understanding concerning the training of ENH staff.

The CNPC delegation was headed by the vice president of the company, Hou Qijun, and included representatives of companies affiliated with the Chinese oil company.

During their stay in Mozambique, the Chinese delegation learned about the state of the oil and gas sector, and visited the Maputo Power Plant, one of the main natural gas producers in the country.

ENH and CNPC are partners in Rovuma Basin Area 4, where the Chinese company acquired an indirect stake in 2013 through Eni East Africa. In May 2016, during his visit to China, President Nyusi signed an agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

This agreement covers renewable hydrocarbons exploration and development, gas liquefaction, commercialisation and monetisation projects, research on national and regional gas market needs, construction of pipelines, and the training of Mozambicans in CNPC technology institutes in China. source: Notícias