MOZAMBIQUE Trends and Developments Contributed by: José Miguel Oliveira, Kenny Laisse and Caio de Mello Ferreira, VdA
In addition, in July 2025, national training sessions on harbour security and narcotics checkpoints were held in Maputo with officials from customs, police, mari - time authorities, port operators and other enforcement agencies. These sessions focused on risk assessment, counter-narcotics operations, port facility security and the prevention of illicit activities in port areas, contrib - uting to the operational strengthening of maritime and port security in Mozambique. Moreover, the CTA and the Centre for Judicial and Legal Training of Mozambique (CFJJ) signed a co- operation agreement for training on maritime law and related matters. This will contribute, inter alia, to the training of maritime court judges, bringing legal cer - tainty to the shipping sector that is increasingly con - solidated and aligned with the best market practices. Infrastructure Recently, the Mozambican government made a posi - tive commitment to the shipping sector by investing around USD1 million to replace the buoys along the access channel to the Port of Maputo. This invest - ment will ensure that the port remains competitive and maintains its position in the region in terms of cargo handling and berthing larger ships. The replacement of buoys will improve navigation conditions along the access channel to the Port of Maputo, thereby sup - porting the growth of the shipping sector in Mozam - bique. The Mozambican government, together with the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), has continued to invest in the modernisation and expan - sion of the Port of Maputo’s infrastructure to enhance its operational capacity and regional competitiveness. In May 2025, MPDC, in partnership with DP World and other stakeholders, commenced a substantial expan - sion of the container terminal, including the extension of quay and deepening of berths to accommodate larger vessels, part of broader efforts to increase throughput and improve efficiency. Further investment plans announced in late 2025 envisage approximately USD500 million over the com - ing three years to expand and upgrade port facilities, including dredging the access channel to deepen it to around 16 metres, enabling the port to handle larger
Panamax and post-Panamax vessels and aligning it with some of the largest regional ports. These struc - tural enhancements are expected to support growth in cargo handling, bolster the port’s role as a regional trade and logistics hub, and reinforce Mozambique’s integration into international shipping networks. Transport In March 2024, the province of Cabo Delgado announced the mobilisation of three vessels by the government to improve the safe transport of people and goods from the capital city to the coastal districts and various islands of the province, as announced by the Minister of Transport and Communications in March 2024. One of the vessels will link Cabo Delgado Province (Pemba, Mocímboa da Praia, Afunge and other ports in the province) and the country’s main ports (Maputo, Beira, Nacala and Quelimane), upon request by the Cabo Delgado Province authorities. Since then, broader developments in maritime trans - port have taken place. In April 2025, the Government of Mozambique, as part of a strategic initiative to revitalise coastal shipping, relaunched maritime cabo - tage services. Two large vessels acquired by private partners were commissioned to ensure regular trans - port of goods between key national ports – including Maputo, Beira, Nacala and Pemba – as part of efforts to modernise national logistics, reduce reliance on road freight and strengthen the blue economy. Rovuma Project The Rovuma Project, otherwise known as Mozam - bique LNG (liquefied natural gas), is a project led by TotalEnergies to produce and exploit natural gas in the Rovuma Basin, in northern Mozambique. The onshore project experienced suspension due to ter - rorist attacks in Cabo Delgado, but as of 2025, force majeure has been lifted, and the project is progressing towards resumption of construction, with first produc - tion now expected around mid-2029. Similarly, ExxonMobil’s Rovuma LNG project lifted its force majeure in November 2025, reflecting improved security conditions and active collaboration with the Mozambican government. This project, with a poten - tial annual capacity of 18 million tonnes, is moving
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