Mozambique on its way to becoming an undisputed power in the production of liquefied natural gas at the sub-Saharan African level. Will it be the end of external dependence? Time will tell. But for now, the data we present below are promising.

According to a new study by Rystad Energy published on the OilPrice portal, Mozambique may become the largest gas producer in the Sub-Saharan region. In fact, according to the same study, Mozambique has 7% of the region's "liquid" fuel reserves.

"With global gas demand continuing to rise and importing countries suffering from headaches due to supply problems, the prospects for production in the region are promising," the study says, and it appears that Mozambique will be at the forefront of this process. "Deepwater production will continue to grow in the 2030s doubling within five years to 2.1 million BOEPD by 2035 which will be 46% of the region's expected total gas production of 4 million BOEPD," adds the study, which is quoted by Voice of America.

"Natural gas production in sub-Saharan Africa has historically been low, but this is expected to change due to significant undeveloped deepwater discoveries in countries such as Mozambique, South Africa and Mauritania" says the study which states that Total's project in Mozambique is expected to start production in 2028 in an area where there are reserves of 2.3 billion BOE.

The Study also says that Mozambique has 52% of all recoverable resources in the area. Production in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to reach five million barrels per day by 2035.

"About 40% of the recoverable deepwater resources in the region are liquid of which 33% in Nigeria and 31% in Angola," says the study which adds.

"Ghana and Mozambique are two other countries with significant untapped resources, constituting 8% and 7% respectively in deepwater liquids reserves," adds the paper which warns, however, that deepwater projects in sub-Saharan Africa are "risky" due to issues related to costs, access to finance and "other risks on the ground."