Mozambique LNG Academy Faces Criticism Over Maputo Training Location

Mozambique’s newly launched LNG Academy has come under criticism in just a week after civil society organisations questioned the decision to base its initial training programme in Maputo instead of Cabo Delgado, where the country’s flagship liquefied natural gas project is located.

The Forum of Civil Society Organizations of Cabo Delgado (FOCADE) said the decision conflicts with the project’s local content objectives, arguing that communities hosting the LNG development should also benefit directly from skills development and employment opportunities.

According to Club of Mozambique, FOCADE said Pemba, the provincial capital of Cabo Delgado and a key operational centre for the LNG project, already has the institutions and infrastructure needed to host the training programme.

The organisation argued that locating the academy in Pemba would strengthen local participation while ensuring that training opportunities remain closer to the communities most affected by the project.

Academy to Train LNG Workforce

The criticism follows the launch of the Mozambique LNG Academy on 28 July, a joint initiative between TotalEnergies, Mozambique’s Ministry of Education and the Matola Industrial and Commercial Institute. Backed by a $3 million investment, the academy will train 260 young Mozambican technicians to support operations at the Afungi LNG project.

Participants will complete one year of classroom instruction at the Matola Industrial and Commercial Institute before undertaking three years of practical training at the Afungi LNG site in Palma, preparing them for production and maintenance roles.

Focus on Local Content

The academy supports broader efforts to increase Mozambican participation in the country’s LNG industry. According to the project consortium, more than 9,000 Mozambican workers are currently involved in construction activities, while around 500 small and medium-sized enterprises have received business development support. The consortium has also provided technical training to more than 1,700 young Mozambicans.

Earlier this year, TotalEnergies held a supplier engagement seminar in Pemba to connect local businesses with procurement opportunities linked to the LNG project. FOCADE argues that locating the academy in the province would further strengthen those local content objectives by bringing skills development closer to the communities hosting the investment.