Mozambique to unveil fresh oil and gas bidding round

Traditional fishing boats sail as Mozambique's tuna fleet sits in dock beneath Maputo's skyline. Reuters/Grant Lee Neuenburg

The INP said the auction will focus on four regions, including the Rovuma Basin, off its northern coast, where the country discovered rich gas reserves and five new blocs will be open for bids.

It will also include seven blocs in Angoche and two in Zambezia province, both to the south of the offshore Rovuma field, and two in the southern province of Inhambane, with the 16 areas covering over 92,000km² in total, the INP said.

Mozambique's gas discoveries were supposed to turn the impoverished nation into a top global gas player, however, so far major developments led by oil giants such as TotalEnergies have been hampered by an Islamist insurgency on their doorstep.