High-Level Policy Seminar on Managing Revenues and Optimizing the Benefits of Coal and Gas Resources in Mozambique

The African Development Bank, in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique, is organizing a high-level policy seminar on the theme “Managing Revenues and Optimizing the Benefits of Coal and Gas Resources in Mozambique” in Maputo from February 27-28, 2013. This seminar takes place against the backdrop of Mozambique’s recent experience in a boom in extractive industries which are expected to accelerate in the coming years as recent discoveries have confirmed coal and gas reserves estimated at 25 billion tons and between 50 and 70 trillion cubic feet, respectively. Seismic activities in the discovery areas of gas, in the Rovuma off-shore basin, suggest that possible gas reserves could actually exceed 120 trillion cubic feet.

The objective of the seminar will be:

• to provide the Government of Mozambique and participants with concrete examples of best practices and lessons learned on management of revenues derived from natural resources and
• to draw policy recommendations that could serve the Government of Mozambique on further reforms and measures enabling the country to properly manage the expected flow of revenues.

Participants of the seminar will include deputies and senior staff from the Government of Mozambique, several personalities and experts recognized for their experience and expertise in coal, oil and gas industries in Africa, Asia, North America, Europe and Latin America, as well as representatives from international organizations intervening in the public revenues policy domain. Local civil society organizations, communities and private sector in Mozambique will also be represented.