Mozambique’s growing natural gas industry is creating new opportunities for local companies, but businesses must improve their skills and meet international standards to secure contracts from major energy operators, Eni Mozambique General Manager Marica Calabrese said.

Speaking at the 21st Annual Private Sector Conference (CASP) in Maputo, Calabrese said local companies should focus on becoming more competitive rather than relying only on government policies to secure work from multinational energy firms.

The comments come as Mozambique advances some of Africa’s largest LNG developments, with gas projects in the Rovuma Basin attracting more than $50 billion in planned investment.

The projects are expected to create opportunities across construction, logistics, services and other parts of the energy supply chain.

Calabrese said the benefits from natural gas discoveries would not appear immediately and would require cooperation between the government, international operators and Mozambican businesses.

Local suppliers urged to strengthen capacity

“Companies cannot just ask for laws to ensure they get contracts with international operators. Each company has to work on itself to become competitive,” Calabrese said during a panel discussion on industrialization and local content.

She said businesses that develop strong capabilities will have a better chance of winning contracts not only with Eni but also with other global energy companies operating in Mozambique and beyond.

Eni has already shown that local participation is possible, with more than $1 billion in contracts awarded to Mozambican companies.

Calabrese said the Coral Sul floating LNG project demonstrated that domestic firms can take part in major energy developments when they have the required expertise and capacity.

Government seeks stronger links between companies and projects

Mozambique’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Estêvão Pale, said the country must do more than train businesses and workers.

He said local companies need clear access to opportunities created by large-scale energy projects.

“It is not enough to train companies if they cannot access opportunities. It is not enough to train personnel if we do not create conditions for their integration and growth in the sector,” Pale said.

The minister called for stronger partnerships between local and international companies, as well as greater involvement from financial institutions to support investment, technology transfer and business development.

Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo signed the Local Content Law in June, alongside revisions to mining, petroleum and state business regulations, aimed at increasing the role of domestic companies in major projects.

Eni is an Italian energy company and one of the main developers of Mozambique’s offshore Rovuma Basin gas resources.

The company began LNG production from the Coral Sul floating facility in 2022 and is preparing the $7.2 billion Coral Norte project, which is expected to increase production capacity to 7 million metric tons per year from 2028.

The Rovuma Basin, located off Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, holds some of the world’s largest natural gas reserves and remains central to the country’s plans to expand energy exports and develop its industrial base.