- Luso reports that the CEO of the Italian oil company Eni, Cláudio Descalzi, has assured Mozambican president Daniel Chapo that he plans to expand operations at the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in the Rovuma basin, “projecting Mozambique onto the global LNG scene”.
In a letter of congratulations to Daniel Chapo, who was sworn into office on Wednesday, the leader of the Italian oil company assumes Eni’s “commitment to further strengthen collaboration”.
“Projecting Mozambique onto the global LNG scene and extending our strategic partnership through the implementation of the Coral Norte FLNG project in the Rovuma Basin. Be assured that our goal is to support Mozambique’s long-term development strategy through local content initiatives and accelerating the country’s energy transition with our vegetable oil initiative and forestry projects,” reads the letter, to which Lusa had access on Thursday.
A source from oil company Eni, the concessionaire for Rovuma Area 4, told Lusa in October 2023 that it was already discussing with the government the development of a second floating platform, a copy of the first (Coral South) and called Coral North, to increase gas extraction.
“Eni has finalised the development plan, which is currently under discussion with the partners and the Government of Mozambique for final approval. At the same time, Eni is moving forward with acquisition processes, environmental impact studies, etc., including contracts associated with drilling,” said an official source from the Italian oil company, questioned by Lusa.
This plan involves the acquisition of a second FNLG floating platform for the North Coral area, identical to the one that has been operating to extract gas since mid-2022 in the South Coral area.
A study by consultancy firm Deloitte confirms that the natural gas projects in Northern Mozambique have the potential to be the single biggest investment on the African continent, ever.
Political unrest
Protesters are contesting the results of the 9 October elections, which allowed the ruling Frelimo party to extend its 49-year rule. Daniel Chapo, the Frelimo candidate, was officially declared the winner of the elections with over 71% of the vote. The protests, primarily led by young people, have resulted in violent clashes with the police, mass prison breaks, and at least 248 deaths.
Mozambique’s main opposition leader, Venancio Mondlane, returned from self-imposed exile earlier this month saying he still rejects the results of a disputed election. Chapo was sworn in as president last week.
Paula Cristina Roque writes that Mozambique is not experiencing a coup – “it’s a people’s revolution of unprecedented proportions demanding electoral truth and justice for assassinated activists. It’s a march against poverty, exclusion, violence, and the arrogance of a ruling party that decides, without consent, the fate of 33 million people, denying them a voice, a platform, a role in the democracy that camouflages Frelimo with a mantle of credibility.
Mozambique’s ruling party has lost legitimacy, it’s in disarray and without a political solution to the post-election crisis sparked by mass fraud. It’s time for Frelimo to step down and begin a transition of power where opposition parties led by Podemos, and civil society can recalibrate governance and open the way for a new political order based on the rule of law, socioeconomic justice, and accountability.” Read more
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
