Maputo, Mozambique — Mozambique’s national oil and gas sector will not attend the Africa Energies Summit in London this May, citing the London-based organisers’ refusal to share workforce-diversity data or employ Black African professionals, according to local reports. Florival Mucave, head of the Mozambique Energy Chamber, told the chamber’s website that “our members will not be going to London” while the Frontier Energy Network continues to “lock out” African staff. He said the chamber had repeatedly asked the organisers to publish hiring figures and to end what he termed a policy of excluding Black professionals, but received no public commitment.
The chamber portrays the boycott as a stand for wider African participation in events that profit from presenting the continent’s resources to investors. Regional officials confirmed that the chamber is urging other national delegations to stay away, although no government ministry or private LNG operator has issued an independent statement on the matter. Mozambique is preparing to bring on stream two major liquefied-natural-gas projects.
Local sources report that the TotalEnergies — led Mozambique LNG on Afungi resumed onshore and offshore work in January after force-majeure was lifted in 2025, with first production scheduled for 2029.
The separate ExxonMobil — Eni Rovuma LNG is also targeting a final investment decision this year, while Eni’s 3. 4-mtpa Coral Norte floating unit reached that milestone in 2025 and is due to start up in 2028.
Mucave linked the conference protest to domestic debates over local hiring and supplier inclusion that intensified after insurgent violence stalled projects in Cabo Delgado.
“Failure to maintain an industry culture that fosters inclusion… will disrupt operations and affect our future success,” he warned. Official statements indicate that Summit organisers have not replied publicly to the discrimination claim or confirmed any programme changes.
It remains unclear whether other producing countries will join the boycott or whether the chamber’s move will affect project financing discussions scheduled for the London meeting.
Further details are expected.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 2*
