The Mozambican government asserts that the exploitation of natural resources should yield direct benefits for the population, including job creation, technology transfer, bolstering national companies, and fostering industrial development.
This stance was made clear by Prime Minister Benvida Levi during the opening of the inaugural Africa Gas and Energy Summit 2026, held in Maputo on 12 November. Representing President Daniel Chapo, Levi stressed that Africa must assume a more prominent role in the global energy economy, evolving from merely being a supplier of raw materials to becoming a producer of energy, industrial goods, knowledge, and technological solutions.
Levi highlighted Mozambique’s natural gas reserves, particularly in the Rovuma Basin, its strategic geographical position, and its youthful population as key advantages for establishing the country as a significant energy development hub on the African continent.
The Prime Minister also pointed to the recent passage of Laws No. 7, 8, and 9 of 2026, which regulate the mining, petroleum, and local content sectors. She described these legislative measures as essential for increasing national participation in the extraction of natural resources.
According to Levi, these legal frameworks aim to promote Mozambican entrepreneurship and create decent, sustainable job opportunities, ensuring that the wealth generated from energy resources contributes effectively to the country’s development.
