Mozambique joins Africa’s gas-producing nations with first-ever locally produced cooking gas

The milestone marks a new era in the nation’s energy sector and reflects growing momentum across Africa to localize hydrocarbon processing and reduce dependency on imports.

The gas was produced and loaded at the newly constructed Integrated Processing Facility (IPF) in Inhassoro, Inhambane Province, part of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between Sasol Petroleum Mozambique, Limitada, the Mozambican government, and the National Hydrocarbons Company (ENH).

The IPF, one of the most advanced of its kind in Africa, has the capacity to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of LPG annually. According to Sasol, this capacity could slash Mozambique’s cooking gas imports by about 70 percent, ensuring a more stable, affordable, and predictable supply to local households.

Sasol’s Managing Director in Mozambique, Ovídio Rodolfo, described the successful loading as “a significant step towards monetising natural gas within the country, creating greater value for the domestic market.”

The LPG is derived from natural gas extracted from the Inhassoro and Govuro reservoirs, where it undergoes a complex industrial separation and treatment process to yield a cleaner and safer household fuel.

From Nigeria and Ghana to Tanzania and now Mozambique, several African nations are moving to process their hydrocarbons domestically rather than exporting raw resources. Africa’s leading LPG-producing nations include Algeria, which dominates the continent with an estimated 8.1 million tonnes produced annually accounting for over half of Africa’s total output.

Nigeria follows with about 1 million tonnes per year, leveraging its vast natural gas reserves despite infrastructural bottlenecks that still constrain domestic distribution.

Egypt produces roughly 1.9 million tonnes annually, supported by a strong refining base and developed midstream infrastructure. Emerging producers such as Angola, Tanzania, and Uganda are also ramping up efforts to establish domestic LPG facilities, while Ghana continues to expand its processing and storage capacity to meet rising household demand.

Mozambique’s entry into this group highlights its determination to harness its natural gas resources for domestic benefit.

The country’s new Integrated Processing Facility (IPF) in Inhassoro, Inhambane Province, marks the first time locally produced LPG will reach Mozambican consumers.

Beyond reducing import dependence by 70%, the project positions Mozambique as a model for other African nations seeking to strengthen energy self-sufficiency, expand clean cooking access, and promote industrial growth through local value creation.