Indian Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, held a significant meeting with Mozambique's Minister of Economy and Finance, Ernesto Max Elias Tonela. The discussion primarily centred around the pivotal role of energy, particularly gas, in India's path from being the world's fifth-largest economy to becoming the third-largest under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders engaged in talks aimed at enhancing collaboration in energy projects within Mozambique. They also delved into the financing mechanism for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. Puri, in his social media posts, emphasised the crucial role of energy, especially gas, in India's economic transformation. Hydrocarbons constitute a substantial portion of the bilateral trade between India and Mozambique, accounting for over 35% of the total trade. This figure has more than doubled in the last five years, growing from USD 2,170.74 million in FY 2018-19 to USD 5,028.53 million in FY 2022-23, underscoring the economic importance of the energy sector in their relationship. During his visit, Puri paid homage to the leaders of Mozambique's freedom struggle at Heroes Square in Maputo, acknowledging the historical significance of their efforts. Puri also visited the 7,500-hectare site of the LNG project in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, and noted the strategic importance of this project in improving India's energy security. He reviewed the 13 million metric tons per annum (MMTPA) LNG trains, affirming the transformative potential of this project under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi. On a previous occasion, Puri had met Mozambique's Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Carlos Zacarias, to discuss the early resumption of operations for the strategically important USD 20 billion LNG project in Mozambique, where Indian public sector units (PSUs) hold a 30% stake. During the meeting with Carlos Zacarias, Puri also extended an invitation for Mozambique to join the Global Bio Fuels Alliance, launched by Prime Minister Modi at the G20 Summit, to further enhance cooperation in the energy sector. This series of high-level discussions between Indian and Mozambican officials reflects their commitment to expanding their partnership and strengthening bilateral trade in hydrocarbons, including LNG, and exploring opportunities for knowledge sharing and capacity building in various energy-related fields. Upon his arrival in Mozambique, Hardeep Singh Puri was greeted with a warm and traditional welcome, reaffirming the growing and strengthening partnerships under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.