Maputo, June 19, 2026 (Lusa) - The European Union (EU) highlighted on Friday Mozambique’s natural gas as a key element in Europe’s energy diversification, advocating a partnership with the country based on mutual benefit.
In an interview with Lusa in Maputo, on the sidelines of a working visit to the country, the Director-General for Africa at the European External Action Service, Patrícia Llombart, stated that Brussels sees Mozambique’s natural resources, particularly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), as an opportunity to deepen strategic cooperation.
“Mozambique has significant potential to become a key partner in the European Union’s energy diversification strategy, given the enormous scale of its natural reserves,” said Llombart, referring to Mozambique’s LNG reserves, which are among the largest in Africa.
She added that the EU is following “with great interest the development of LNG projects in Cabo Delgado”, two of which are being led by European oil companies, and sees “great long-term potential” as security conditions improve and investment resumes.
She highlighted the projects led by Italy’s ENI and France’s TotalEnergies, involving some of the largest gas reserves discovered in recent decades off the coast of Mozambique and substantial investments.
“They are, without doubt, very important in the current geopolitical context, particularly for Europe’s energy diversification and energy security,” she stated.
She added that these investments “are clearly in the common interest of both Europe and Mozambique”, at a time when the EU is seeking to reduce energy vulnerabilities and diversify its supply sources.
Despite this potential, Llombart acknowledged that fully realising this objective will take time, particularly as the country is still trying to contain the insurgency threat in the north, which has hampered the progress of the projects.
“It will take some time for the full potential to be realised, given the scale of the investments required and the infrastructure needed,” she said, adding that she remains “very optimistic about the role Mozambique can play as a future energy partner of the EU”.
When asked about the growing international competition for mineral and energy resources in Africa, including competition from China and the United States in Mozambique, she sought to distinguish the European position from other approaches from outside the continent.
She explained that the European presence in the country is based on a spirit of partnership, sustainability and respect for the sovereign decisions of the Mozambican state: “It is guided by a spirit of partnership, it is guided by the principle of sustainability, and it is also guided by the fundamental principle of Mozambique’s sovereignty”.
Patrícia Llombart emphasised that the relationship between the EU and Mozambique stems not only from Europe’s current energy needs, but from political, economic and development cooperation built up over decades.
“We view our relationship with Mozambique as a long-term one. A relationship based on shared values and also on shared interests,” she said.
She added that “this is not a temporary measure” and described the partnership as “a permanent, long-term relationship based on shared values and interests”.
In the same vein, she emphasised that the exploitation of natural resources and development choices are exclusively a matter for Mozambique.
“What the EU offers is a partnership between equals, in which sustainability plays a key role and which is based on trust and mutual benefit, rather than competition for access,” she said.
Llombart also announced the launch today of structured consultations between the EU and Mozambique on the security situation in Cabo Delgado, at a meeting she will co-chair alongside Mozambique's defence minister, Cristóvão Chume: “It will be an important opportunity to hear the minister’s assessment of the situation in the north and also to look to the future and discuss what the aim of our future cooperation might be.”
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
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