Mozambique’s biggest gas project could open the door to thousands of local businesses, but companies will need to move quickly to secure a place in the supply chain as ExxonMobil prepares for a key investment decision on Rovuma LNG.

The Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique, or CTA, estimates that the project could generate income for about 2 million Mozambicans and create business opportunities for as many as 10,000 companies.

For local businesses, the opportunity extends well beyond supplying the gas industry. Companies in construction, agriculture, mining, transport, logistics and other services could benefit as major investors expand their operations and demand for local suppliers grows.

Adrian Frey, president of the CTA’s Local Content Bureau, said Mozambican companies should build partnerships with major investors and prepare for tenders rather than wait for contracts to arrive.

“Our objective is to generate income for two million people and contracts for 10,000 companies,” Frey said after meeting Anthony Pryde, ExxonMobil’s Mozambique Development Director. He said partnerships would be critical to reaching that target.

Local companies prepare for contracts

The CTA has already published more than 600 tenders and business and employment opportunities through its platforms, Frey said. He urged companies to follow the listings closely and make sure they can meet the requirements set by major investors.

Frey said local content should not be limited to natural gas. Mining, agriculture and other industries tied to large investment projects could also create opportunities for Mozambican businesses. ExxonMobil’s MozUp platform is designed to help companies seeking to join the supply chains of major projects.

ExxonMobil pushes local participation

Pryde reaffirmed ExxonMobil’s commitment to working with Mozambican companies and expanding their participation in the Rovuma LNG supply chain.

The Rovuma LNG project is being developed in Area 4 of the Rovuma Basin in Cabo Delgado. Development was suspended after an armed insurgency in the province led to a force majeure declaration in 2021, delaying the project.

ExxonMobil is a U.S.-based energy company with operations spanning oil, natural gas, refining and petrochemicals. In Mozambique, it leads the Rovuma LNG project in Area 4 with its partners, making the company a central player in the country’s plans to develop its large offshore gas reserves.

The project now faces a crucial test as ExxonMobil prepares for a final investment decision.

For Mozambican businesses, the message from the CTA is clear: companies that want a share of the contracts need to start preparing before the spending begins.