Mozambique – the new ‘super player’ Significant gas finds in excess of 127 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) in Mozambique have created the potential for another African super player. With further exploration and development it is expected that Mozambique could overtake Nigeria and Algeria as the African country with the largest gas reserves. Mozambique is expected to become the second-largest exporter of Liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 2025, as the country steps up production from 10 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) in 2017 to an envisaged 50Mtpa. Access to the lucrative Asian LNG market has significant economic benefits for the East African region and could act as a catalyst for meaningful economic development. Ghana – the world benchmark Developments in Ghana have demonstrated the possibilities within Africa to the world. The Jubilee field – located 60km offshore, between the Deepwater Tano and West Cape Three Points blocks – was hailed as the fastest ever deep water development, taking just 24 months from development to production. South Africa – big players invest In South Africa, more than US$1 billion is to be spent on exploration over the next year, with more than 10 companies granted exploration licences – with Exxon, Mobil and Anadarko acquiring deep water rights on the East Coast and BHP Billiton, Cairn India and Sunbird Energy on the West Coast. South Africa has been estimated to have the fifthlargest shale gas reserves in the world.
