Mozambique is to give the final go-ahead for gas projects that are being developed by Italy’s Eni and US energy firm, Anadarko, by the end of 2016, the state-run National Hydrocarbon Company (ENH) announced, according to Reuters. Following the initial discovery of natural gas in the Rovuma basin in northern Mozambique, six years ago, Anadarko and Eni have not made the Final Investment Decision (FID), the last and final step to proceed with their investments worth $15b. FIDs are viewed as the final hurdle to developing huge liquefied natural gas export projects, expected to bring tens of millions of dollars into Mozambique, one of the world’s poorest countries. 

The state oil and gas company ENH’s Chairman, Omar Mitha, said that the exploration of natural gas in the country needs to accelerate, MacauHub informed. ENH has held talks with the government with regard to a precise timeline under which all contracts, the legal framework, and resettlement processes will be accomplished, StarAfrica wrote.

Previously, South Africa’s Sasol informed it had obtained permission for drilling appraisal wells in an area adjacent to its Pande and Temane gas fields in Mozambique.