Landmark regulatory instruments solidify the INP’s statutory authority as the nation’s sole Upstream Regulator while sharpening Mozambique’s energy governance framework.
Maputo - Mozambique’s Cabinet, convened during its 29th Ordinary Session on October 13, 2026, officially promulgated the Decree establishing the comprehensive Petroleum Operations Regulations, alongside a decree approving the new Organic Statutes for the National Petroleum Institute (INP), the nation’s Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The updated Petroleum Operations Regulations delineate the regulatory mechanics, fiscal-technical parameters, and procedural frameworks governing the granting of petroleum operating rights. The decree imposes rigorous technical, economic, health, safety, and environmental (HSE) standards, alongside enhanced field audit, compliance inspection, and data disclosure mandates codified under the national Petroleum Law.
In parallel, the INP’s restructured Organic Statutes overhaul the institute’s administrative architecture, aligning its operational capacity with the expanded mandate enshrined in Petroleum Law No. 8/2026 of June 3. This institutional realignment formally cements the INP’s standing as an empowered, autonomous Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Commentary from the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the INP, Engineer Nazário Bangalane, underscored the transformative impact of the Cabinet’s decision on the domestic energy landscape:
“The ratification of these fundamental instruments equips the INP with a far more formidable regulatory and structural toolkit. This enhances our capacity to regulate, inspect, and oversee upstream petroleum operations across the lifecycle with heightened clarity, policy predictability, and technical precision,” Bangalane stated.
The Chairman further highlighted that institutionalizing the INP’s regulatory supremacy is essential to safeguarding state interests and ensuring sound stewardship of national resources. “These measures enable the INP to execute its mandate with uncompromising technical rigor. We are now better positioned to ensure that all upstream operations adhere to international industry best practices, stringent operational safety, environmental stewardship, governance transparency, and the defense of the public interest,” he emphasized.
In a broader push to finalize the nation’s energy framework, the Cabinet also ratified key enabling regulations for Local Content Law No. 9/2026 of June 3, alongside the foundational Statutes establishing the specialized Local Content Authority for the petroleum sector.
Institutional Communications & Media Relations: National Petroleum Institute (INP) | Headquarters: Rua dos Desportistas, Nº 259, Maputo, Mozambique Telephone: +258 21248300 | Email: comunicacao@inp.gov.mz Official Channels: LinkedIn | Facebook
