Japanese investors will receive support to increase investment in natural gas projects in Mozambique as the southeast African country aims to develop large offshore projects, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.
Japan will encourage “the entry of more Japanese businessmen” into Mozambique, Kishida said in the capital, Maputo, on Thursday. “Cooperation in the energy sector with the development of liquefied natural gas projects” will continue, he said.
Tokyo-based Mitsui & Co. has a 20 percent stake in Mozambique’s $20 billion flagship LNG project. Led by TotalEnergies SE, the project has been stalled for more than two years due to Islamic State-linked terrorist attacks in the region.
Japan regained its position as the world’s biggest LNG importer last year, overtaking China, as fuel prices rose after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Security in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, home to major gas projects, has improved significantly since regional troops arrived to help the government, but some attacks persist.
Kishida pledged financial support to Mozambique to fight terrorism.
“Security is crucial to the operation of Japanese companies in northern Mozambique,” he said. “Japan to provide financial support to fight terrorism”.
Mozambique had recently announced that it will receive maritime surveillance equipment and a ship donated by the Japanese government worth $830,000.
