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Mozambique has a diversity of energy resources, but relies on imported petroleum and petroleum products for 75 percent of its commercial needs. To allow the country to emerge from the existing underdeveloped situation, the current policy is to develop large amounts of cheap energy - including new and renewable resources - to satisfy the demand of large industrial and agricultural projects.

At least thirty-eight thermal springs have been identified in Mozambique. The most interesting geothermal area is within the East Africa Rift just north of Metangula where vigorously boiling water is reported on the edge of Lake Nyasa. Several lower temperatures (below 60°C) found in the springs issue from Mesozoic crystalline terrain along and to the west of major faults in the Espungabera-Manica areas, near the border with Zimbabwe.

The most promising areas for geothermal energy development are the northern and central provinces of Mozambique where heat-flow values range between 70 and 170 mW/m². The local availability of geothermally interesting fluids confirms the possibility of small-scale power generation, and warrants more detailed studies and eventual exploratory drilling. For further information see"Geothermal Features of Mozambique Country Update," published in the Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress 1995.