Mozambique Hopes to Start LNG Exports by 2018

Gas rich Mozambique hopes to begin exporting LNG by 2018, President Armando Emilio Guebuza said Thursday.

"We are doing our best to make sure that by 2018 the first trains are delivered to the market," said Guebuza, who is Aberdeen at a conference to promote Mozambique's nascent oil and gas industry, Dow Jones Newswire reported.

Mozambique has seen number of large gas discoveries in last few years, mainly offshore.

The East African nation expects it will cost at least $40 billion to develop its natural gas infrastructure, including a plant capable of exporting 20 million metric tons of LNG and a local distribution hub that will service its domestic energy needs as well as those of its near neighbours, Dow Jones quoted Minister of Mineral Resources Esperenca Bias.

Two firms, Eni and Anadarko currently have right to export LNG and both these firms are in discussions with the government about developing an LNG plant, said Arsenio Mabote, chairman of National Pteroleum Institute.