Ukraine and Mozambique Explore Energy-Security Partnership Amid Conflicts
In a significant diplomatic overture, Ukraine has formally expressed interest in importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Mozambique, linking potential energy deals to mutual security cooperation. The development emerged after a telephone conversation on Monday between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Mozambican counterpart, President Daniel Chapo.
A Proposed Exchange of Resources and Expertise
President Zelensky articulated the potential framework for collaboration in a post on the social media platform X. He stated that Ukraine could offer its “experience and technologies” to assist Mozambique in strengthening its internal security and protecting civilians from terrorism. In exchange, he noted Ukraine’s need for “additional energy supplies” from the Southern African nation.
“Ukraine is interested in additional energy supplies. Mozambique is interested in Ukraine’s experience and technologies to strengthen its internal security and protect people from terror,” Zelensky wrote, framing the potential partnership as a symbiotic exchange between two nations facing prolonged security crises.
Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure Under Strain
Ukraine’s pursuit of new LNG sources is a direct consequence of sustained damage to its domestic energy sector. Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine’s own natural gas production met nearly all of its domestic demand, according to reporting by Reuters.
However, four years of targeted Russian military strikes have critically degraded this capacity. In late 2023, Andriy Pyshnyi, then Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, stated that the country had lost approximately 50% of its pre-war gas output due to the destruction of production infrastructure. This has forced Ukraine to seek alternative, often more expensive, energy imports to power its economy and military effort.
Mozambique: A Resource-Rich Nation Facing Its Own Insurgency
Mozambique presents a complex but potentially lucrative partner. The country possesses vast natural gas reserves, primarily in the offshore Rovuma Basin, and is positioned to become a major global LNG exporter. Key projects are led by international energy giants:
- TotalEnergies: The French supermajor’s $20 billion Mozambique LNG project was relaunched in January 2024. This followed a five-year hiatus after a devastating jihadist attack on the nearby town of Palma in 2021.
- Eni: The Italian company is also developing a separate, large-scale LNG project in the region.
These developments could significantly boost Mozambique’s export capacity in the coming years. However, the country’s gas industry operates in a tense security environment. Since 2017, an Islamist insurgency, affiliated with the Islamic State group, has destabilized the northern Cabo Delgado province where the gas projects are located. This is the “security challenge” referenced by Zelensky, suggesting Ukraine might propose sharing lessons from its own counter-terrorism and asymmetric warfare experience.
Geopolitical Implications and Challenges
The proposed dialogue represents a fascinating intersection of two distinct conflicts. For Ukraine, it is a pragmatic move to diversify energy supplies away from traditional European routes that are themselves vulnerable to geopolitical pressure. For Mozambique, engagement with a nation like Ukraine—which has received extensive Western military support—could open new channels for security assistance and technology, potentially enhancing the protection of its critical energy infrastructure.
Substantial hurdles remain. The physical logistics of transporting LNG from Mozambique to Ukraine would be complex, likely involving long sea voyages and third-party facilities. Furthermore, the ongoing insurgency in Cabo Delgado poses a direct risk to any future gas export operations, a risk that any investment would need to factor in. The “exchange” of security know-how for gas would also require careful, discreet diplomacy to navigate both nations’ international relationships.
While formal agreements are distant, the very public discussion signals a willingness by both Kyiv and Maputo to explore unconventional partnerships. It underscores how the global ripple effects of the war in Ukraine are reshaping energy diplomacy, creating new alliances between states that are, in their own ways, fighting to secure their sovereignty and resources.
Sources: Reuters, statements from the Office of the President of Ukraine.
