Mozambique 23 Nov: Global bidders for Mozambique’s gas

Good afternoon. Mozambique has received bids from 14 companies or consortia, based in various parts of the world, to build major gas-utilisation projects in Mozambique once Anadarko’s Rovuma Basin project gets going in around 2022. Little has been formally said about the proposals, but Zitamar News has pieced together the likely shape of the bids from what we know so far.

SEE: Global fertilizer giants among bidders for Mozambique domestic gas projects

The number of dead from the Caphiridzange tragedy last week has now risen to 84, and the truck driver is still at large. Meanwhile, video footage has emerged of the doomed villagers taking fuel from the tanker.

On the subject of fuel transport, Zimbabwe’s truckers’ unions have reacted angrily to a proposed ban on taking fuel by road from Beira to Zimbabwe. The measure has been proposed to push more traffic onto the pipeline, justifying its rehabilitation and expansion - but the unions warn it could cost thousands of jobs.

SEE: Zimbabwe unions threaten legal action over proposed fuel truck ban

In more Zimbabwe news, it has emerged that Cahora Bassa (HCB) sells power to Zimbabwe at less than half the price that South Africa’s Eskom does. HCB is regularly criticised for the super-low price it charges South Africa for its output - and the latest revelations could mean that criticism intensifies.

SEE: Mozambique is Zimbabwe’s cheapest power supplier – but Zim still can’t pay

The international mediators in Mozambique’s peace process declined to speak to the media today, perhaps due to certain sections of the Mozambican press getting over-excited about the prospect of progress. As far as we can tell, the two sides are still a long way from agreement.

SEE: Mozambique mediators still searching for common ground between warring parties

The Bank of Mozambique is hoping the country’s banking crisis might be over after the resolution of Moza and Nosso Banco. Some of the other endangered banks have put out statements to reassure the market and the public at large that they are stable. Perhaps the new governor’s crusade to clean up the banking sector will stop there, for now.

SEE: Bank of Mozambique calls for calm, as fear and rumours jeopardise banks’ stability

Governor Zandamela could yet cause an earthquake in another sector, however. The Bank of Mozambique is the biggest shareholder in newspaper group Notícias, publisher of regime mouthpieces Notícias and Domingo as well as sports newspaper Desafio. But the company is in trouble and Zandamela is reportedly in no mood to keep propping it up.

Daily Notícias currently gobbles up the lion’s share of print media advertising, particularly by the state, and is therefore required reading even for people who aren’t interested in reading its exclusively Frelimo word view.

If the paper - which in many ways is a high quality product - is privatised, as some are now suggesting could happen, it could blow open the Mozambican media landscape and put independent media on a more equal footing. It will of course depend on who buys it - but this is a development with the potential to be very good news for Mozambican democracy.

Have a great week.

RECENT POSTS

• Mozambique is Zimbabwe’s cheapest power supplier – but Zim still can’t pay

• Global fertilizer giants among bidders for Mozambique domestic gas projects

• Mozambique mediators still searching for common ground between warring parties

• Zimbabwe unions threaten legal action over proposed fuel truck ban

• Bank of Mozambique calls for calm, as fear and rumours jeopardise banks’ stability