Mozambique gas projects advance amid calls for local community benefits

As Mozambique prepares for the resumption of major liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, including the ExxonMobil-led Rovuma LNG, civil society and human rights organizations are demanding concrete benefits for local communities in Cabo Delgado. The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and the Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD) have emphasized that the restart must prioritize job creation, skills development, and the integration of Mozambican companies into the supply chain to avoid repeating past failures.

In a significant industrial development, Greek company Corinth Pipeworks has been awarded a contract valued between $200 million and $250 million to manufacture and supply approximately 250 kilometers of steel piping for the Rovuma Basin project. This move signals progress toward a Final Investment Decision (FID).

On a broader economic scale, Mozambique has seen a 121% increase in hydrocarbon revenues, though the direct fiscal impact of megaprojects on the state budget remains limited. Meanwhile, TotalEnergies has completed its exit from the Arctic 2 gas project in Russia, a move that aligns with Western sanctions and may influence global energy market dynamics.