Maputo, Mozambique – 06–07 May 2026

The 12th Mozambique Mining and Energy Conference and Exhibition (MMEC 2026) concluded successfully in Maputo after two days of high-level dialogue, strategic networking and investment discussions focused on unlocking Mozambique’s natural resources to accelerate industrialisation, economic diversification and inclusive growth.

Held at the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre under the theme “Mozambique: Open for Business – Unlocking Natural Resources for Industrialisation, Diversification and Inclusive Growth,” the conference brought together government leaders, multinational operators, development finance institutions, investors, regional stakeholders and local private sector representatives to explore practical solutions capable of transforming Mozambique into one of Africa’s leading mining and energy investment destinations.

Opening the conference, President of the Republic of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, highlighted Mozambique’s strategic geographic position and vast natural resource potential, stressing that the country seeks not only to export resources, but also to accelerate industrialisation, diversify the economy and create long-term value for Mozambicans through local content development and regional integration.

Mozambique’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Estevão Pale, emphasised that MMEC continues to serve as a strategic platform for investment promotion and policy dialogue. He further highlighted ongoing legal and institutional reforms aimed at improving regulatory certainty, strengthening investment predictability and ensuring greater national participation in mining and energy projects.

The opening programme featured a High-Level Roundtable on “Partnerships for Transformation: Harnessing Natural Resources for Economic Diversification, Inclusive Growth and Regional Integration,” bringing together ministers and senior government representatives from Mozambique, Eswatini, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania. Discussions focused on regional energy cooperation, pipeline infrastructure, electricity interconnectivity, industrial integration and cross-border energy markets.

The conference also examined the rapid expansion of Mozambique’s oil and gas sector during the Oil and Gas Panel, held under the theme “Mozambique Open for Investment: Unlocking Mozambique’s Next Energy Frontier.” Executives from ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, ENI, Sasol, Sonatrach and ROMPCO reaffirmed long-term confidence in Mozambique’s LNG sector and discussed infrastructure development, domestic gas utilisation and industrialisation opportunities linked to LNG investments.

Speaking during the session, ExxonMobil Mozambique Managing Director Arne Gibbs stated that the Rovuma LNG Project represents the largest project in the history of the African continent and confirmed that ExxonMobil expects to take its Final Investment Decision in September.

The conference further addressed sustainable mining and responsible resource governance during the Extractive Industries and Mining Panel, which examined how Mozambique can strengthen local value addition, industrial competitiveness and resilient regional supply chains within the mineral sector.

Energy access, electrification and regional energy security also featured prominently during Session 3, dedicated to scaling up clean energy investment across Mozambique and the Southern African region.

The conference additionally explored financing requirements for the next generation of mining and energy megaprojects in Mozambique. Discussions focused on infrastructure financing, blended finance mechanisms, legal reforms and the role of development finance institutions in supporting industrialisation and large-scale investment.

The second day of MMEC 2026 focused strongly on upstream gas development, local content, downstream infrastructure and industrial corridors.

Session 5, dedicated to the Upstream Oil and Gas sector under the theme “Lower Carbon and FID-Ready: Taking the Upstream Sector to Market,” explored Mozambique’s growing role within the global LNG market and the strategic importance of balancing energy security with lower emissions.

Andrew Barry, Vice President of Global LNG Marketing at ExxonMobil, highlighted that Mozambique is expected to become the world’s fourth-largest LNG exporter in the future, reinforcing the country’s growing relevance within the global energy market.

The relationship between mining activity and reliable, clean energy access was further explored during Session 6 on Mining and Energy. Participants emphasised that sustainable energy is fundamental for competitive mining operations and broader industrial development.

Local content emerged as one of the most prominent themes throughout the conference. Session 7, dedicated to “Modernising Local Content: Developing Local Capabilities for Global Projects,” generated extensive discussions around strengthening Mozambican SMEs, improving access to financing and ensuring greater participation of local companies within multinational supply chains.

The Downstream Oil and Gas Panel further explored opportunities linked to domestic gas utilisation and infrastructure development under the theme “A Market Ready for Downstream: Unlocking Opportunities.” Discussions focused on gas distribution, LPG production, fertiliser projects, fuel terminals and the infrastructure necessary to expand gas access across Mozambique.

Infrastructure development and logistics integration remained central to discussions during Session 9, “Mozambique in Motion: Infrastructure Corridors for Mining and Energy Growth.” Participants examined how industrial parks, transport systems, logistics corridors and regional infrastructure partnerships can accelerate long-term growth across the mining and energy sectors.

The conference concluded with Session 10, a high-level closing debate under the theme “The Way Forward: From Resources to Resilience – Shaping Mozambique’s Sustainable Energy and Mining Future.” Discussions focused on regulatory reform, investment predictability, LNG project development and stronger collaboration between government institutions, multinational operators and local businesses.

The final day also featured the MMEC 2026 Awards Ceremony, recognising excellence within the mining and energy industries. Sasol received awards for Best Energy Project and Best Social Responsibility Project, while Vulcan was recognised in the Best Mining Project category.

In the official closing remarks, organisers described MMEC 2026 as a successful platform that reaffirmed Mozambique’s growing position as one of Africa’s leading destinations for mining and energy investment.

MMEC 2026 concluded with renewed calls for stronger regional integration, infrastructure development, local industrialisation, responsible investment and sustainable partnerships capable of accelerating Mozambique’s long-term economic transformation and positioning the country as a strategic energy and industrial hub within Africa.