Mozambique breaks ground on major technology center to boost innovation

Mozambique is stepping up efforts to build a skilled workforce for its growing oil and gas sector with the launch of a $40 million technology center in Maputo.

The project comes as the country pushes to benefit more from major liquefied natural gas developments in the Rovuma Basin, one of Africa’s largest natural gas regions. 

The Mozambique Technology Center, known as CTM, is expected to train local workers for technical roles that have often been filled by foreign specialists.

Officials say the facility will help keep more skills, jobs and investment within the country as energy projects expand. 

The center is being developed through a partnership between the Mozambican government, the National Hydrocarbons Company and Area 4 partners led by ExxonMobil.

Authorities see the project as part of a broader effort to strengthen local participation in the country’s energy industry. 

The launch also reflects rising international interest in Mozambique’s gas sector, which has attracted billions of dollars in planned investment from global energy companies over the past decade.

Building local skills for the LNG industry 

Mozambique’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Estêvão Pale, said the center will train up to 250 technicians each year in fields such as process operations, electricity, instrumentation and mechanical maintenance.

Those skills are considered critical for large energy and industrial projects. 

Pale said the government wants more Mozambicans to take part in the country’s natural gas industry rather than relying heavily on workers trained abroad.

He added that local training would lower costs while helping the country build a stronger base of technical expertise. 

“This project represents Mozambique’s decision to invest in its own talent and strengthen local content,” Pale said during the groundbreaking ceremony in Maputo.

ExxonMobil backs long-term training plan 

Arne Gibbs, general manager of ExxonMobil Mozambique, said the facility will provide internationally recognized certifications aligned with global LNG standards.

He said the goal is to prepare young Mozambicans for careers in one of Africa’s most closely watched energy markets. 

The project’s memorandum of understanding was signed in Houston in 2025 during President Daniel Chapo’s visit to the United States.

The agreement marked another step in Mozambique’s effort to deepen ties with international investors as it develops its energy and infrastructure sectors.