NEWS

Mozambique's LNG Ambitions Taking Shape, Gradually

Rigzone Staff

| Tuesday, December 02, 2014 | 4:44 AM EST

“Mozambique is a green field. We are still developing our oil and gas industry and all kind of services are welcomed … We are open to see anybody … those who come in today will be the winner in this oil and gas industry,” Tavares Martinho, ENH’s vice president, Commercial told delegates at the 6th World LNG Series in Singapore.

“We have problems and challenges in infrastructure and manpower and also services, so any kind opportunities put in place are needed … Anadarko, Eni and others will need these kinds of services for development of the resources already discovered,” he added.

To support the petroleum industry, the Mozambique government is spending $150 million to develop a logistics base at Pemba. When ready, the base will provide logistics services to petroleum producers and to oil and gas services providers, such as maritime firms, drilling contractors and other service companies.

On manpower, ENH’s Martinho pointed that Mozambique needs more skilled professionals such as builders, mechanics, radio operators, securities and others, welders, electricians, civil engineers, pipeline constructors. The country also has to build up its pool of higher skilled professionals, including geoscientists, engineers, geophysicists, environmental officials, lawyers, doctors and others.

Mozambique is looking further ahead in spite of the enormous work needed to bring the first two LNG projects into production.

The country’s Institute of National Petroleum (INP), on behalf of the government, launched in October the Fifth License Round for hydrocarbon exploration in 15 licenses located in the offshore Rovuma, Zambezi and Angoche blocks as well as onshore around the Pande-Temane concession and Palmeira areas. The tender, which covers around 29,652 square miles of acreage, will close Jan. 20, 2015.