Mozambique: Italy reaffirms readiness to start Rovuma Basin LNG exploitation as Di Maio visits – Watch

Italy has reiterated both an interest in starting the exploitation of liquefied natural gas in the Rovuma Basin, Cabo Delgado, in the second half of this year, and its satisfaction that conditions for doing so exist.

Gas exploitation will be undertaken by Italian major Eni in a project that includes Exxon Mobil and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

The position was expressed by visiting Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, after a meeting with the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, in Maputo on Saturday.

While relations between Mozambique and Italy remain strong, both countries are working to strengthen cooperation, which will reach a high point with the visit to Mozambique of the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, in a few months.

Di Maio observed that potential for new partnerships between Mozambique and Italy existed in the area of renewable energies, adding “many Italian businesspeople have expressed an interest in exploring this sector”.

Di Maio, who was visiting the country together with Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi wrote on Facebook: “Also, in Mozambique, we have reached an agreement to strengthen the energy partnership between our countries. The most important local authorities have confirmed their availability”.

“As with Algeria, Qatar, Congo and Angola, we continue to consolidate energy relations, in order to become independent from Russian gas and protect Italian families and companies,” the Italian Foreign Minister’s post reads. “It is only the latest move in the Italian plan to free itself from Russia.”