Zitamar Weekly 11 August 2017: A chance to make history
Good afternoon. Today ends a week that could live long in the history of Mozambique - depending on what happens next, on both the gas projects and the all-important peace process.
Presidents Nyusi and Dhlakama surprised the country on Sunday when they met close to Dhlakama’s hideout in the Gorongosa mountains. The two men spoke in private for more than two hours, Zitamar understands - and while the resulting statement was vague, it is almost certainly a step forward towards peace.
FREE TO READ: Historic day for Mozambique as Nyusi visits Dhlakama in Gorongosa
Onshore LNG is inching forward after the government signed the marine concession agreements with Anadarko and Eni yesterday. The government is coming closer to meeting its end of the bargain, but the Area 1 and Area 4 shareholders still need to sell the LNG to make the projects happen.
SEE: Anadarko, Eni sign Mozambique LNG concession agreements
National oil company ENH recently told Mozambican news site A Verdade that it is running out of gas to supply all the projects already going on in southern Mozambique. Another of those won US funding this week to help see it through to financial close.
SEE: US grant for new gas-to-power project in Mozambique
There was some very slight relief for Mozambican borrowers last night, with a 25bp drop in the Bank of Mozambique’s interest rates. Analysts expect the central bank not to change the rate again in two months time, given its concerns over government borrowing.
SEE: Bank of Mozambique warns government borrowing could fuel more inflation
There was good news for Nampula at the end of last week, when transport minister Carlos Mesquita confirmed his ministry is working on certifying Nampula airport, along with those in Beira and Maputo, for international travel. Uncertainty remains for Tete, Inhambane, Vilankulo and Pemba, however.
SEE: Mozambique to certify three international airports by year end – Minister
And finally, a group of Mozambican civil society organisations came together over the last two months to test the country’s new access to information legislation. Of 10 institutions contacted, seven - including the parliament - failed to comply with the law.
FREE TO READ: Mozambique’s parliament fails to comply with freedom of information law
Zitamar’s new daily Mozambique Briefing will take a break next week, returning on 22 August, but this newsletter will be back next Friday.
See the rest of this week’s stories below - and have a great weekend.
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Historic day for Mozambique as Nyusi visits Dhlakama in Gorongosa