The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has been ongoing for three years, has brought about a significant energy crisis within Ukraine, necessitating that the Eastern European nation seek alternative energy partnerships across Africa.

According to a recent report, Ukraine is exploring options to procure substantial quantities of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Mozambique, a Southern African country.

This information was disclosed by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who confirmed his country’s LNG interest on Monday, after a meeting with his Mozambican counterpart, President Daniel Chapo.

"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," the Ukrainian president stated.

Despite the massive LNG reserves in Russia, its neighbor and now aggressor, Kyiv has not imported Russian gas since 2015, a few years before the war.

Back then, the Eastern European country relied heavily on local production; however, since the start of its conflict with Russia, Ukraine’s local production of LNG has taken a significant hit.

As seen on The Independent, Russian strikes, which sometimes targets Ukriane’s gas facilities, are to blame for the country’s inability to continue with its local production.

According to Ukraine’s Central Bank Governor, Andriy Pyshnyi, the Eastern European country has seen its local LNG production cut down by half.

As a result, Ukraine is in dire need of supply alternatives, and Mozambique seems like an ideal partner.

Mozambique currently stands as one of the primary and fastest-growing gas producers on the African continent.

LNG challenges in Mozambique

The Southern African country and TotalEnergies were identified as prospective key suppliers following an announcement in January regarding the recommencement of a significant LNG initiative, which had been previously suspended due to regional insurgency.

With a projected annual capacity of 13 million metric tons of LNG, Mozambique is poised to evolve into a major global gas exporter.

However, the project has been met with a few roadblocks in recent months.

Back in October last year, TotalEnergies informed the country that the cost of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) project had increased by $4.5 billion due to the four-year halt.

In the same month, ExxonMobil suspended its interest in Rovuma LNG, a $30 billion gas project, due to the same security challenge.

However, persistent insecurity in the Cabo Delgado province, the epicenter of an Islamist insurgency that has destabilized northern Mozambique for nearly a decade, engendered doubt in the minds of potential investors.

In December 2025, the British government announced the withdrawal of its $1.15 billion investment in the TotalEnergies-led Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas project.

The funding had been promised in 2020 through UK Export Finance, just before the UK committed to ending direct government backing for overseas fossil fuel projects.

"In preparation to restart the project, UKEF was presented with a proposal to amend the financing terms it had agreed originally," British business minister Peter Kyle said in a statement.

"This view is based on a comprehensive assessment of the project and the interests of UK taxpayers, which are best served by ending our participation in the project at this time," he added.

TotalEnergies (26.5%), Japan's Mitsui (20%), state-owned ENH (15%), Bharat Petroleum (10%), Oil India (10%), ONGC Videsh (10%), and Thailand's PTTEP (8.5%) own the Mozambique LNG joint.