Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Wants to Import Gas From Mozambique

Ukraine Looks to Mozambique for LNG Imports as Russian Attacks Hit Gas Output

By Pavel Polityuk

Ukraine’s Energy Crisis and Search for LNG Alternatives

KYIV, March 23 (Reuters) - Ukraine is interested in importing liquefied natural gas from Mozambique, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday, as it struggles to meet its energy needs following years of Russian attacks on its production infrastructure.

Impact of Russian Attacks on Ukraine’s Gas Production

Before the war, Ukraine met almost all of its gas needs through domestic production. But Russian strikes have meant that Ukraine has lost about half its gas output, Central Bank Governor Andriy Pyshnyi  said late last year.

Last autumn, Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian gas production facilities, most of which are located in frontline regions in northeast and central Ukraine.

Ukraine-Mozambique Energy Talks

Speaking on the Telegram messaging app after meeting with Mozambique President Daniel Chapo, Zelenskiy suggested that Kyiv could offer the southern African nation - which is battling an Islamist insurgency - support in countering its security challenges.

Potential for Mutual Cooperation

"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," Zelenskiy said, without providing any details of what volumes of gas might be involved in any deal.

Mozambique’s LNG Export Capacity

Mozambique is a major African gas producer, and in January the country and TotalEnergies announced that they would relaunch a LNG project, previously halted by the insurgency. 

Production and Export Prospects

With capacity to produce 13 million metric tons of LNG annually, the project is expected to make Mozambique a major gas exporter.

Ukraine’s Broader LNG Import Strategy

Ukraine has not imported Russian gas since 2015.

Expanding LNG Sources

In recent years, Kyiv has also been expanding its LNG, establishing supplies of U.S. LNG from terminals in Poland and the Baltic countries.

Ukraine also imports U.S. LNG via so-called Vertical Corridor of pipelines from Greece.

Gas Storage and Future Plans

European AGSI official energy data showed last week that Ukraine had begun storing gas in its underground facilities in preparation for the next heating season.

Energy minister Denys Shmyhal has said that Ukraine intends to start the 2026–2027 heating season with at least 13 billion cubic metres of gas in underground storage – roughly the same volume as in the previous season.

Secrecy Around Gas Imports

Since the start of the war with Russia, Ukraine has not disclosed full details of its gas imports.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Andrei Khalip)