Mozambique Oil & Gas: Govt paves the way for oil and gas research in the country

The Council of Ministers on Tuesday approved oil and gas exploration and production contracts in five offshore areas and one onshore in four provinces.

The areas are A5-A; A5-B; Z5-D, all located in the Offshore area of ​​Angoche, Nampula province; the Z5 – C area, located in the Zambezi Delta, which comprises the provinces of Sofala and Zambézia, and the PT5 – C (Offshore) and Mazenga (Onshore) areas, located in the province of Inhambane.

The National Hydrocarbons Company (ENH), a representative of the Mozambican State, participates in all areas concessioned in partnership with foreign multinationals, except in the Mazenga area, where, according to data contained in the communiqué issued by the Council of Ministers, this Tuesday at the end of the 25th regular session, participates alone.

Among the oil and gas multinationals entering the prospecting race, the Texas-based oil giant Exxon Mobil participates in four of the six new areas, which implies that it will be the one with the most investments in the country.

The contracts that have been signed today are for eight years and can be extended for 30 years in case of commercial discoveries.

The Government estimates $825 million worth of investments over the eight years of the initial research and prospecting phase, which corresponds to a minimum annual investment of $ 100 million.

National preference

According to the terms defined by the government, concessionaires should privilege, in their activities, whenever possible, domestic companies and products.

“One of the aspects foreseen in these contracts is the obligation to involve national companies in the provision of services; the preference of national products when comparable in terms of price and quality, “explained Ana Comoana, spokeswoman for the Council of Ministers.

Another requirement imposed in the contracts is the “launching of public tenders for the acquisition of goods and services, when the amount exceeds 80 million dollars.” source: O Pais

With projects in the new areas, “it is expected that more jobs, more technical training, more involvement of national companies, especially Small and Medium Enterprises, but also the production bonus and revenues,” said Comoana.