Africa Oil & Gas: Mozambican Govt Seeks to Attract Russian Investment for Oil and Gas Exploration

The Mozambican government is seeking to attract Russian private sector investment for oil and gas exploration within national territory, with a particular focus on Cabo Delgado province. The intention was expressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Maria Santos Lucas, following a meeting with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in the Russian capital, according to news agency Lusa.

“We feel we must bring the Russian private sector to Mozambique,” declared the Mozambican foreign minister during a press conference, adding that thanks to Minister Sergey Lavrov’s support, the Mozambican delegation had the opportunity to meet with Russian companies involved in oil and gas exploration.

The minister explained that Mozambique aims to diversify its energy partners, which currently include companies such as the U.S.-based ExxonMobil, France’s TotalEnergies, Portugal’s Galp, among others. Russian participation would be directed toward Cabo Delgado province, where significant natural gas reserves have been discovered, despite the insecurity caused by the armed insurgency that has plagued the region since 2017.

According to Maria Santos Lucas, the country counts on international support in the fight against terrorism, mentioning the military presence of Rwanda and Tanzania, as well as the training of Mozambican personnel in Russia.

“We have Russia’s unconditional support in the north of the country, in Cabo Delgado province. We also have members of the Defence and Security Forces currently being trained here [in Russia],” she stated.

Referring to the impact of the war in Ukraine, the minister noted that the conflict has had repercussions for Africa, especially regarding access to cereals and fertilizers, recalling that Mozambique previously benefited from supplies through a bilateral agreement with Russia.

“The issue of fertilizers is being felt, as is the shortage of cereals,” she emphasized.

When asked about this year’s African Union theme – “The Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations” – the minister argued that more than financial compensation, Africa demands the ability to transform its natural resources locally.

“We need to be allowed to work, to have the freedom to process our wealth on our own continent, and not have our raw minerals and timber taken away to be processed elsewhere,” she criticized.

The diplomat also took the opportunity to highlight the historical ties with Russia, noting the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and recalling that many of the fighters in Mozambique’s national liberation struggle received training in Russia.