Critical marine habitats along the Mozambique coastline are at risk of devastation from a proliferation of proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects that threaten to stifle the potential of the marine and beach tourism sectors.

A June report from environmental NGO Earth Insight, entitled ‘Anything But Natural: LNG Infrastructure Expansion Threats to Coastal & Marine Ecosystems’, identified regions in northern Mozambique as among the most heavily impacted by such projects.

Although there is currently only one LNG export terminal operating in the region, there are plans to build nine new terminals in Mozambique, with the goal of raising LNG export earnings from US$1.7 billion in 2023 to $91.7bn in the coming decades.

The Earth Insight report highlighted that the proposed LNG terminals were in or near the Mozambique Coastal Breeding Grounds Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA), running along the country’s entire coastline. The IMMA is home to important mating, calving and nursery grounds for Humpback whales, as well as a wide variety of endangered marine species.

“Unfortunately, mining and extractives are given priority over all other uses of our lands and ecosystems in Mozambique. Even though important ecosystems have been identified and placed under protection, the protection is pointless the minute an extractable resource is found,” Anabela Lemos, Director of the Mozambique arm of environmental organisation Friends of the Earth, told Tourism Update.

The report found that 100 000 ha of coral reef and more than 44 000 ha of mangrove would be affected by the proposed projects.

“Mozambique is home to many endangered fish and marine species and unique ecosystems, such as those in the Quirimbas Archipelago off the coast of Cabo Delgado province, a Unesco Biosphere, which will be heavily impacted by the gas extraction. The noise, traffic, pollution and general habitat degradation will have a major negative impact on the population of these species. Any spills or accidents will be catastrophic,” Lemos added.

The Cabo Delgado province has been rocked by violent insurgencies since 2017, with Earth Insight’s report stating that this had been exacerbated by militarisation linked to the new gas projects.

Lemos said harmonious co-existence between fossil fuel projects and sensitive environments was impossible.  

“It is also important to note that these fossil fuel projects have not brought economic benefits to Africa but instead the trend has been of increased corruption, debt, militarisation and conflict, to the point where it is commonly known as the resource curse.”

Eco-tourism the attractive alternative

Lemos said that eco-tourism, harnessing the rich biodiversity and beauty of the Mozambican coastline, offered a more attractive alternative for creating economic growth for communities, while maintaining unique and important ecosystems.

She pointed out that tourism’s decentralised model could disperse economic benefits to a wider range of people, compared with the ‘trickle-down’ model of extraction, which disproportionately favoured corporations.

“The activities linked to tourism can more strongly involve local communities. Also, the interaction between different cultures creates bonds that can facilitate deeper links between countries and can create economic opportunities in other sectors. Therefore, it is important that tourism must promote and develop local sectors, and not rely on expensive imports and control of services by foreign tourism companies.”

Supporters of LNG

Meanwhile, supporters of the LNG projects argue that the resultant power generation would support the stability of tourism sector operations around the country.

“Despite its great potential, Mozambique’s tourism industry will not be able to grow and flourish without reliable power,” Florival Mucave, Executive Chair of the Mozambique Energy Chamber, told Green Building Africa. “We want tourists to be able to enjoy our beautiful country, and we want a dynamic tourism sector that contributes to long-term economic growth and job creation. To achieve that, we need reliable power; we need infrastructure. Mozambique can achieve all of that with LNG production and revenue.”

The Earth Insights report urged for investment to be channelled into the development of renewable energy solutions, including wind, solar and tidal.

“Most of the countries where the LNG expansion is planned have great capacity for renewable energy. Rather than betting on short-term solutions with direct impacts for marine animals and coastal communities, banks and companies should redirect economic resources towards renewable energies and long-term solutions.”