The president of Mozambique, Armando Emilio Guebuza, is travelling to Europe’s energy capital to fly his country’s flag at a two-day conference at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
This is a coup for the city, which faces stiff competition from other major energy centres like Stavanger for the attention of new-generation oil and gas players of which Mozambique is among the newest.
Three years ago, this East African country was not on the global oil and gas map. But a series of giant offshore gas discoveries by Anadarko, BG, Eni and others has changed that.
Mozambique is thought to have massive gas reserves – the current estimate standing at more than 100trillion cu.ft.
The stage is set for East Africa to become just as important to the international energy community as West Africa, where countries like Nigeria, Angola and Ghana are prospering.
The supply chain in Aberdeen already does a huge amount of business in Africa. Scottish and Scottish-based companies have earned a strong reputation and that message has reached Mozambique’s president.
The Aberdeen conference is being organised by the Mozambique High Commission in London and Aberdeen City Council and will be staged on July 25-26. President Guebuza is due to arrive on July 23. A significant programme of engagements is being put together.
The conference will be addressed by the president and several of his ministerial team including Esperenca Bias, minister of mineral resources; Armando Inroga, minister for industry and trade; and Amelia Nakhare, deputy minister for planning and development.
It was clear from speaking with Gordon McIntosh, Aberdeen City Council’s director of enterprise, planning and infrastructure, that the conference appeared on the radar screen less than two months ago and that the stops were immediately pulled out to attract both the event and Mozambique’s president.
“We have been working with Mozambique’s High Commissioner, Carlos dos Santos, over the past six weeks to develop this conference,” said Mr McIntosh.
“As well as the president and his key ministers, there will also be presentations by Arsenio Mabote, chairman of the board of the National Petroleum Institute of Mozambique; and Lourenço Sambo, director-general of the country’s investment promotion centre.
“It is expected that there will be up to 20 key Mozambique businesses accompanying the presidential party.”
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