Natural Gas for Mozambique’s Fertilizer Production

While the majority of companies involved in the recent offshore natural gas discovery boom in Mozambique are focusing on LNG to monetize their resources, there are other opportunities for Mozambique’s current gas production. The petrochemical industry, specifically natural gas as feedstock for fertilizer production, is one of those opportunities for the country’s current production.  

Mahomed Valá, national director for Agrarian Services Mozambique, said the country may start producing fertilizer as soon as 2014 or 2015 as part of an initiative by Mozambique’s Agriculture Ministry in partnership with some countries in Southern Africa interested in the project.

Valá told Mozambican daily newspaper Notícias on the sidelines of an industry event that the fertilizer factory would likely be built in Inhambane, as the province contains the Pande and Temane gas fields, which are exploited by Sasol.

One of the sector’s focuses was to make the most of the country’s potential to ensure improved agricultural production and productivity and thus, the National Fertilizer Program, outlines, amongst other things, use of the natural gas available in the country, starting with Inhambane.

“We need a fertilizer industry in the country and between 2014 and 2015 Mozambique will have a factory and we will produce fertilizers from the available gas,” he said adding that the final product would be sold in neighboring countries, particularly landlocked countries with poor soil.