Maputo, Aug. 25, 2026 (Lusa) - The shipping giant MSC has launched a dedicated service to Afungi, Mozambique, strengthening access to the gas production area and consolidating maritime links to mega-projects, in light of the security situation in Cabo Delgado.
In a company statement seen on Tuesday by Lusa, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announced the launch of the Afungi Shuttle service, a dedicated coastal route between Afungi and the ports of Nacala in the north and Maputo in the south, designed to support the movement of goods to natural gas development projects in northern Mozambique.
Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Geneva, MSC is currently the world's largest container shipping company, operating a fleet of nearly 1,000 vessels and providing regular services to major international markets.
The announcement comes at a time when energy operators are stepping up preparations for the development of mega gas projects in the Rovuma Basin, in northern Mozambique, but also a year after business leaders in Cabo Delgado warned of the risk of Afungi becoming logistically isolated, following indications that supplies to the complex would prioritise air and sea routes for security reasons.
At the time, representatives of the local private sector expressed fears that the restrictions would drive away companies based in the interior of the province, in a region that has been affected since October 2017 by armed attacks claimed by groups associated with Islamic State – a conflict that has caused more than 6,600 deaths and displaced over a million people.
According to MSC, the Afungi Shuttle service was developed to facilitate the transport of construction materials, machinery, industrial equipment, spare parts and other goods required for the development of the Afungi liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, north of Palma, which is currently accessible only by sea and air.
The operation includes dedicated Nacala–Afungi–Nacala (Nampula province) and Maputo–Afungi–Maputo voyages, strengthening the logistical link between the far north of Cabo Delgado and Mozambique's main ports.
The shipping company adds that the service will enable Afungi to be integrated into its global shipping network, linking northern Mozambique to trade routes serving Europe, the Mediterranean, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and southern Africa.
The launch follows the lifting of the force majeure clause for the Mozambique LNG project, led by the French company TotalEnergies, whose resumption of operations was officially marked in Afungi in January this year, almost five years after activities were suspended due to armed attacks in Palma and the surrounding area.
In February, TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil also launched a joint tender for the chartering of seven vessels and tugs to support maritime operations for the projects in Areas 1 and 4 of the Rovuma Basin. In this tender, the concessionaires estimated an annual throughput of around 400 LNG and condensate transport vessels via Afungi, illustrating the growing importance of the maritime component to the development of the projects.
Area 1, led by TotalEnergies, is set to begin LNG exports in 2029, with a production capacity of 13 million tonnes per year.
Meanwhile, the Rovuma LNG project, led by ExxonMobil in Area 4, is awaiting the final investment decision, scheduled for September, and is targeting a production capacity of 18 million tonnes per year.
The two concessions, in Afungi, envisage the sharing of facilities and represent a total investment of $50 billion (€42.4 billion).
Mozambique has approved three major projects for the exploitation of the vast natural gas reserves in the Rovuma Basin, considered to be among the largest in the world.
In addition to the mega-projects by ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies, the Italian company Eni has been producing since 2022 via the Coral Sul floating platform and plans to expand production from 2028 with Coral Norte, whilst a third unit is also under consideration.
PVJ/AYLS // AYLS
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