Maputo, Mozambique, 29 Dec – The Deputy Mining Resources Minister, Abdul Razak Noormahomed, said that Mozambique had around 29 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Pande and Temane basins, 3.6 trillion in Inhambane and Rovuma, in the north of the country, had at least 25 trillion in reserves.

Speaking to Mozambican newspaper Notícias the minister said that piping the natural gas from Temane, in Inhambane, for domestic use, will require expansion of the processing station, which would require an investment of between US$20 and US$30 million.

Notícias reported Thursday that preparatory work was underway to pipe domestic gas to consumers in the cities of Maputo and Matola and the town of Marracuene, and it is expected that by the end of the first quarter of 2012 work will begin on expanding existing facilities.

Domestic gas consumed in Mozambique is currently processed in South Africa, from where it is transported to Maputo by truck. The government, together with private partners, is investing in the industrial port of Matola, on the outskirts of the Mozambican capital, which will allow for anchorage of ships carrying natural gas processed in other countries intended for local consumption. (macauhub)