Mozambique's President Daniel Chapo recently attended ROG.e 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, a premier oil and gas forum in Brazil, as a keynote speaker. The event, which took place from 21 to 24 September, focused on energy evolution and global cooperation, with a strong emphasis on hydrocarbons. This visit marks a significant step in Mozambique's energy diplomacy, positioning the country as an active player in South-South energy partnerships. By participating in this forum, Mozambique is seeking to deepen its cooperation with Brazil through knowledge-sharing and structured investment partnerships.
Mozambique's ambassador to Brazil, Alexandre Manjate, highlighted the importance of this mission, citing Petrobras' extensive experience in complex offshore environments as a key area of interest. Brazil's deepwater and pre-salt fields, including the giant Búzios block, offer a technical base that Mozambique hopes to access. The ROG.e 2026 forum brought together major energy players, including TotalEnergies, Shell, Petrobras, Galp, and Equinor, providing a dense network of potential partners for Mozambique. This platform allows Mozambique to present its hydrocarbon potential and study the development paths of mature producers.
During the forum, President Chapo shared the opening platform with IBP president Roberto Ardenghy and Petrobras chief executive Magda Chambriard, underscoring Mozambique's significant role in the event. According to a senior energy strategist, Mozambique is transitioning from being a project host to an active architect of South-South energy partnerships. This shift is reflected in Mozambique's efforts to establish structured relationships with Petrobras, Shell, and Galp to identify concrete offshore investment opportunities.
Mozambique is not only seeking advice but also aims to secure capital and diversify funding beyond traditional Western and Asian backers. The country's gas projects are gaining momentum, with TotalEnergies restarting the US$20 billion Mozambique LNG project in January 2026, targeting around 13 million tonnes per year from Area 1 by 2029. ExxonMobil and its Area 4 partners have also advanced the Rovuma LNG development, awarding roughly US$1.1 billion in pre-investment contracts.
Eni's Coral North floating LNG expansion reached a final investment decision in late 2025 and targets first production in 2028. Foreign direct investment in Mozambique reached approximately US$5.7 billion in 2025, according to government data, with the majority linked to Rovuma Basin hydrocarbons. Brazil's subsea engineering expertise is directly relevant to Mozambique's next deepwater campaign, making the cooperation between the two countries increasingly important.
The ROG.e platform provides a valuable opportunity for Mozambique to study the development paths of mature producers and present its hydrocarbon potential. Ambassador Manjate frames this participation as part of a broader effort to reconfigure Mozambique's role in the international energy system. To support this goal, Mozambique is implementing new regulatory moves in extractives, aiming to update concession rules and cost oversight as investment accelerates.
As Mozambique and Brazil deepen their energy cooperation, the focus shifts to turning knowledge and expertise into concrete projects. With its rich hydrocarbon potential and growing momentum in gas projects, Mozambique is well-positioned to attract investment and expertise from Brazil. The strengthened ties between the two countries are expected to have a positive impact on Mozambique's energy sector and its role in the international energy system.
Key points
- Mozambique seeks to deepen cooperation with Brazil through knowledge-sharing and structured investment partnerships, particularly in deepwater expertise.
- Mozambique aims to diversify funding for its gas projects beyond traditional Western and Asian backers.
- The ROG.e 2026 forum provides a platform for Mozambique to present its hydrocarbon potential and study the development paths of mature producers.
