Key Points
- Abdinasir Ali Hassan is driving Mozambique gas partnerships.
- Hass Petroleum aims to expand upstream operations in southern Africa.
- Talks with Mozambique and Oman signal new energy alliances.
Kenyan oil tycoon Abdinasir Ali Hassan is setting his sights on Mozambique’s untapped natural gas reserves as Hass Petroleum prepares to expand its footprint beyond East Africa. Hassan, the Chairman of Hass Petroleum, recently visited Maputo, where he held talks with Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, exploring possible partnerships in the country’s energy sector.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Hassan described the discussions as “fruitful” and said both sides are keen to move forward. He revealed that the talks also involved OQ Trading Lda, the international trading arm of Oman’s government, in what could become a multi-nation collaboration in Mozambique’s energy industry.
“We’re here to discuss how we can create partnerships with the Omani and Mozambican governments in the energy and oil sector,” Hassan said. “Mozambique is a very good country for doing business.”
Mozambique’s gas resources attract East African investors
According to a report by Billionaires.Africa, Mozambique is home to some of the world’s largest natural gas deposits, a resource that has drawn global energy giants like TotalEnergies and Eni. Despite recent challenges with insurgency-related instability in the northern region, interest in the country’s energy sector remains high.
For Hassan and Hass Petroleum, Mozambique represents not just a business opportunity, but a strategic gateway. He pointed to Mozambique’s more than 2,000 kilometers of coastline and key ports—including Maputo, Beira, and Nacala—that serve as vital links to neighboring landlocked countries such as Malawi, Zambia, the DRC, and Zimbabwe.
“Mozambique is centrally positioned,” Hassan said. “It’s a gateway where we can do business and work together to build strong energy logistics for the region.”
Early discussions lay groundwork for future energy projects
While no official agreements have been signed yet, Hassan is optimistic that these initial conversations will lead to concrete partnerships. He noted that the Mozambican government responded positively and indicated readiness to proceed to “the second level” of talks, which industry insiders interpret as the beginning stages of project collaborations.
“He (President Chapo) received us very well and also blessed us,” Hassan added. “The government is ready.”
For Hass Petroleum, which currently operates in more than 11 East African countries with commercial offices in London and Dubai, entering Mozambique’s upstream energy sector is a significant move. The company has been gradually shifting from its core business of fuel distribution into upstream exploration and energy infrastructure development.
This latest initiative could mark Hass Petroleum’s most ambitious push into energy project development, further establishing East African companies as key players in southern Africa’s growing energy landscape.
