Mozambique 14 June 2017: Meetings with Exxon past and present

Good afternoon. President Filipe Nyusi is in the US this week, meeting with representatives of American investors in Mozambique, including ExxonMobil and Anadarko - and meeting Exxon's former CEO, now Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.

SEE: Secretary Tillerson meets Mozambique President as ExxonMobil prepares to explore

Exxon is just getting started in Mozambique, but Anadarko is by now an old hand. The company signed three further contracts with respect to its LNG project last month.

SEE: Mozambique government signs three agreements with Anadarko’s LNG project

The future of renewable energy investments is also becoming clearer, with the IFC committing financing for the planned 40.5 MW solar plant in Mocuba. The plant - which could be the largest solar project in sub-saharan Africa outside of South Africa - is expected to reach financial close in the coming weeks.

SEE: Mozambique solar plant signs concessional finance deals ahead of financial close

A shipping company is looking for a partner to create a maritime freight service up and down Mozambique’s 2,470km Indian Ocean coast. Though it has tried to keep the identity of its investors hidden, the company’s largest shareholder seems to be former Mozambican defence minister Alberto Chipande.

SEE: Chipande-linked company seeks partner for Mozambique coastal shipping JV

Mozambique’s labour ministry has suspended 20 Chinese workers at Wanbao Africa Agricultural Development, holders of a massive farming concession in Gaza province. The suspensions, which followed an inspection by the ministry’s inspector general, mark a departure from the government’s past defence of Wanbao against accusations that the company is engaged in a land grab and that it disrespects local workers.

FREE TO READ: Mozambique’s labour ministry suspends 20 illegal Chinese agricultural workers

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security used last week’s Tete Infrastructure Forum to present potential investors with plans for irrigation projects in five major river basins throughout Mozambique. The projects clock in on the expensive side, according to a World Bank study, but Agriculture minister Jose Pacheco described them as part of Mozambique’s plan to become a net food exporter by 2050.

FREE TO READ: Mozambique invites investors to fund irrigation projects

Have a great week.
 

RECENT POSTS

• Secretary Tillerson meets Mozambique President as ExxonMobil prepares to explore

• Chipande-linked company seeks partner for Mozambique coastal shipping JV

• Mozambique government signs three agreements with Anadarko’s LNG project

• Mozambique solar plant signs concessional finance deals ahead of financial close

• Mozambique labour ministry suspends 20 illegal Chinese agricultural workers