President Daniel Chapo has reinforced Mozambique’s energy cooperation with Brazil during a series of high-level meetings in Rio de Janeiro, focusing on investment opportunities, knowledge sharing in oil and gas exploration, and the development of technical skills for Mozambique’s emerging gas industry.
The meetings, held on Sunday, 20 September, were separate engagements with the Brazilian Petroleum Institute (IBP) and Shell Brasil, conducted on the margins of Chapo’s participation in the Rio Oil and Gas 2026 Forum (ROG.e), where he is the main speaker.
HORIZONTAL COOPERATION, MUTUAL BENEFIT
Speaking after the meetings, ROG.e President Nelson Narciso Filho described the discussions as “very open,” involving Mozambique’s petroleum sector representatives. He emphasised that cooperation between the two countries must be based on mutual benefit rather than a one-sided relationship.
“We talked about development, about training people, about where Brazil can somehow collaborate with this whole process,” Narciso Filho said. “We see a unique opportunity for the two countries to work together, to develop together”.
He stressed the principle guiding the partnership: “It is not Brazil giving and Mozambique receiving; it is Brazil giving, Mozambique giving, Brazil receiving and Mozambique receiving” .
Narciso Filho identified Mozambique’s natural gas reserves and geographic location as factors that could favour its integration into the international energy market, while also highlighting Brazil’s experience in combining hydrocarbon exploration with renewable energy development.
SHELL BRASIL EYES FUTURE COLLABORATION
João dos Santos Rosa, President of Shell Brasil, said the meeting with President Chapo addressed the development of Mozambique’s energy industry, prospects for future collaboration, and the country’s positioning on the international stage.
“We spoke of potential future opportunities, but mainly to thank you for your presence and that of your delegation here in Brazil,” dos Santos Rosa said.
He indicated that collaboration could encompass energy studies, the sharing of best practices and experiences from other markets, as well as technical skills development. “It was in this context that we also discussed future collaboration and the continuation of a relationship that has been very good between our company and the Government of Mozambique”.
The Shell Brasil president also addressed the evolution of Mozambique’s legal framework and the conditions necessary for identifying investment opportunities, with a view to benefits for both parties. He expressed confidence that Mozambique has the conditions to develop its energy industry and attract international investment, citing its gas reserves, ongoing projects, and connections to world markets.
His assessment was unequivocal: “Mozambique has everything to be a great energy power”.
BRAZIL’S DEEP-WATER EXPERTISE
Brazil’s experience in deep-water and ultra-deep-water oil and gas exploration is widely recognised as world-leading. The Santos Basin’s pre-salt discoveries, including the Tupi, Mero, and Búzios fields, have established Brazil as a global pioneer in complex offshore development.
Petrobras, Brazil’s state-controlled energy company, has developed key technologies including managed pressure drilling, multi-stage intelligent completion, and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units that have made ultra-deep-water production viable. This expertise is directly relevant to Mozambique’s offshore gas developments, which involve similar technical challenges.
Brazil’s deep-water achievements are the result of decades of strategic investment in research and development, including the Technological Capacitation Program in Deep Waters (PROCAP), which created a framework for developing and implementing critical technologies.
MOZAMBIQUE’S GAS AMBITIONS
The meetings come at a pivotal moment for Mozambique’s energy sector. Two major LNG projects are advancing toward final investment decisions expected by the end of 2026.
The Rovuma LNG project, led by ExxonMobil on behalf of Area 4 partners, represents an estimated $30-32 billion investment. It aims to produce 18.6 million tonnes per annum of LNG from an onshore facility on the Afungi Peninsula, with first cargo targeted for 2031.
The Mozambique LNG project, operated by TotalEnergies, resumed construction in January 2026 after a five-year halt, representing a $20 billion investment.
Mozambique’s Minister of Finance has emphasised the role of natural gas in driving Africa’s industrialisation, positioning the country’s resources as a catalyst for broader economic transformation.
RIO AS A PLATFORM FOR ENERGY DIPLOMACY
President Chapo’s participation in ROG.e 2026 places Mozambique at the centre of one of the world’s major energy industry gatherings. The event, organised by IBP, is expected to draw approximately 80,000 participants, more than 650 exhibiting companies, and 13 international pavilions.
Chapo is scheduled to deliver a keynote address focused on “Energy Evolution for the Future,” projecting Mozambique’s energy ambitions to an international audience of operators, service companies, technology suppliers, financial institutions, and regulators.
Beyond Shell, Mozambique’s agenda in Rio includes engagement with companies such as Petrobras and Galp, as the country seeks to establish or deepen relationships with international operators that could participate in the next phase of its gas resource development.