The Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, said today that he would like to see Mozambican liquefied natural gas entering Europe through the port of Sines.

"We can already use the port of Sines and Mozambican gas will be very welcome, if you choose it as an entry point into Europe," said António Costa, on the sidelines of the Portugal-Mozambican Business Forum in Maputo.

According to Lusa, the decision is in the hands of the oil and energy companies and the production that is about to start in the floating platform in the Rovuma basin has already been sold for 20 years - even so, the political will to approach in this area was evident at a time when an energy crisis is affecting the world and, in particular, Europe.

The "first response" to the crisis is to accelerate the use of renewable energy, a transition that will require "resources like those in which Mozambique is rich, such as natural gas.

"The start of natural gas exploration in Mozambique could surely not come at a better time for Mozambique and for those who are importers, as are almost all the countries of the European Union (EU)," he stressed.

"That is why we have every interest in the rapid stabilization of security in Cabo Delgado: for humanitarian reasons" and "for reasons that have to do with the development of Mozambique, but also so that gas exploration can be fully exploited in markets that need it, such as the European market," he added.

Armed attacks in the northern province have prevented the construction of onshore gas liquefaction plants that could supply new customers, leaving the floating Cora South platform, whose production starts before the end of the year and delivered to BP by 2042.

"If we don't increase the supply of natural gas, it will be difficult for us to respond to this global crisis of inflation that is being transmitted from product to product, country to country, and contaminating the world economy," António Costa illustrated.

"Mozambique will surely be a happy contributor to the solution of the world energy crisis," anticipated the Portuguese Prime Minister.

If there is supply capacity, "we have every interest" in Mozambican gas as well as gas from other origins "entering Europe through the port of Sines" - either to feed the future interconnection to Spain and France, or immediately by transfer.

"We are creating conditions so that, in the meantime, the port of Sines can function as a natural gas transfer port," said Costa, pointing to the infrastructure as the Atlantic port "closest to the African continent" and with deep waters.

"It is not overcrowded like the ports of central and northern Europe are," that is, "the berthing and transfer operation" is faster in comparison with ports "in Holland," Costa exemplified.

This means a saving of four days per round trip, which he considers relevant in the market for "large methane carriers", natural gas freighters that "are a scarce commodity worldwide".

"Saving four days on each trip greatly increases the ability to export and supply gas," he pointed out.

Questioned by journalists, Nyusi referred the matter to the gas exploration companies.

Already on Thursday, the head of state had admitted that the construction of a second platform to continue autonomous gas exploration, offshore, is under study while the situation on land is not safe for the construction of larger projects.