Powering East Africa’s Energy Future: LNG Opportunities in Mozambique and Oil & Gas Growth in Uganda

Major LNG developments in Africa are creating significant opportunities across the global energy workforce. Projects in Mozambique and Uganda are attracting international investment and specialist talent, making them some of the most closely watched developments in the sector.

In this blog, Tom Hennessy, Divisional Director at Orion Group, shares his insights on what these projects mean for both clients and candidates.

Based in Manchester, Tom leads Orion’s operations across the North of England, Uganda and Mozambique. Since joining the business in 2016, he has supported major operators and EPC contractors by sourcing and mobilising skilled professionals for complex international energy projects.

Drawing on his experience across LNG, oil and gas and emerging energy markets, Tom explains why these developments are gaining momentum and what professionals should know if they are considering opportunities in the region.

East Africa is emerging as one of the most exciting regions in the global energy landscape. Major LNG developments in Mozambique, alongside significant upstream investment in Uganda, are helping to unlock vast natural gas resources while supporting long-term global energy security.

As these projects move from planning into large-scale execution, they are creating significant opportunities for skilled professionals across Engineering, Construction, Commissioning, Operations, Maintenance and Project Services.

These developments are placing Mozambique and Uganda firmly on the map as two of Africa’s fastest-growing energy markets, attracting international investment and creating growing demand for experienced oil and gas and LNG professionals.

To explore the scale of these developments and what they mean for the global workforce, we spoke with Tom Hennessy, who oversees Orion’s workforce solutions supporting projects in Mozambique and Uganda from the company’s Manchester office.

Navigating disruption and building project resilience

Large-scale energy projects rarely progress without challenges, and the Mozambique LNG project is no exception.

Several years ago, security issues in northern Mozambique led to the project being placed under force majeure. Since then, the operator, TotalEnergies, has undertaken extensive due diligence to ensure the project could safely resume.

"Over the past few years there has been significant investment in security measures around the project site and surrounding areas,” explains Tom. "A major part of restarting the project was ensuring the workforce could operate safely.”

Alongside improved security infrastructure, operators have also focused on strengthening relationships with local communities.

“Building stronger local engagement has been an important step,” Tom says. “Helping communities understand the long-term economic benefits of the project creates greater local support and stability.”

With force majeure lifted in late 2025, the project has now entered a new mobilisation phase.

“We currently have around 70+ contractors supporting the project across multiple international locations through Orion’s workforce and contractor management services,” Tom explains. “Now we’re moving into a phased mobilisation, prioritising critical roles first before gradually scaling up the workforce.”

This structured approach helps maintain project momentum while ensuring the right expertise is deployed at the right time.

LNG and the global energy transition

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) continues to play an increasingly important role in the global energy transition. As countries look to balance energy security with lower emissions, LNG is widely viewed as a key transitional fuel.

This shift is also influencing workforce dynamics.

“We’re seeing a significant increase in professionals moving into LNG projects,” Tom explains. “There are several major developments happening globally at the same time, including Mozambique and major projects in the Middle East.”

However, this rapid growth has created a challenge for the industry.

“Historically, operators preferred candidates with previous LNG experience. But because the demand is so high, clients are now more open to hiring professionals from other complex oil and gas projects and training them in LNG technologies.”

For many professionals, this represents an opportunity to transition their careers into one of the fastest-growing segments of the energy industry.

Global competition for specialist talent

The rise in LNG developments worldwide has created intense competition for skilled professionals.

“There is already a limited pool of experienced LNG specialists,” Tom says. “With several large projects running simultaneously, competition for those people is extremely high.”

To meet this demand, international mobility has become a critical component of workforce planning.

“The Mozambique LNG project alone involves teams working across multiple countries including France, Italy, Egypt, China, Indonesia, the United States and the UK,” Tom explains.

By drawing on Orion Group's global database of more than 300,000 professionals, alongside international recruitment networks and global mobility support, the team is able to source specialist expertise wherever it exists.

“Global mobility is a key part of delivering these projects, allowing us to bring specialists from different parts of the world to support the project wherever they are needed.”

Orion supports these projects through a combination of international recruitment, talent acquisition, contractor management, global mobility and payroll services designed specifically for complex energy developments.

Developing local expertise for the future

While international expertise is essential during the early phases of major energy projects, building local capability is equally important.

One approach being used across many African energy developments is a structured knowledge transfer and localisation model.

“In many cases, an expatriate specialist will be brought into a role initially,” Tom explains. “Part of their responsibility is to mentor local professionals who will eventually take over that position.”

Over time, this creates a sustainable pipeline of skilled local talent.

“We’ve seen this happen in other regions such as Nigeria,” Tom adds. “Local professionals gain experience on these major developments and eventually become part of the global workforce themselves.”

This approach supports both project success and long-term economic development in host countries.

Why professionals are drawn to projects like Mozambique LNG

For many contractors and engineers, projects of this scale offer unique career opportunities.

“The size of the project is a major attraction,” says Tom. “Working on a development of this magnitude gives professionals experience that can open doors to future global projects.”

The operator behind the project also plays a significant role.

“TotalEnergies is one of the world’s largest energy companies. Having that experience on your CV is extremely valuable.”

And of course, international assignments often come with competitive financial packages, which continue to attract experienced contractors.

What experience helps candidates stand out?

For professionals interested in opportunities in East Africa’s LNG sector, certain skills and experiences can make a significant difference.

“Previous LNG experience is always highly valued,” Tom explains. “But if candidates have worked on complex oil and gas projects, that experience is often transferable.”

For engineering roles in particular, operators typically expect strong academic qualifications alongside project experience.

Another factor that can strengthen a candidate’s profile is previous work with major operators rather than only subcontractors.

“Clients often look for professionals who understand how operator-led projects function,” Tom adds.

Supporting clients entering emerging markets

For energy companies expanding into new regions, workforce planning can be one of the most complex challenges.

“Companies entering emerging markets such as Mozambique and Uganda need to consider several factors early on,” Tom says. “Local content requirements, visa quotas, regulatory compliance and mobilisation timelines, can all impact how quickly projects move forward.”

This is where experienced workforce solutions providers such as Orion Group can play a crucial role.

“Every country has different regulations and processes,” Tom explains. “Because Orion has delivered workforce solutions in challenging environments around the world, we’re able to help clients navigate those complexities, from recruitment and mobilisation to payroll, compliance, and contractor management.”

What’s next for Orion in Africa?

As energy investment across Africa continues to grow, Orion Group is actively exploring opportunities to expand its presence across the continent.

“We’re currently working with several existing clients who are developing new projects in different African locations.” Tom says.

One area of particular interest is Namibia, where recent offshore discoveries have attracted significant industry attention.

“At the moment we’re reviewing potential new country entries and identifying the right partners to support those developments,” Tom explains. “There are several locations we’re assessing, so it’s very much a case of watch this space.”

Opportunities ahead

As LNG developments in Mozambique progress and major oil and infrastructure projects advance in Uganda, demand for skilled professionals will continue to grow.

For candidates, these projects offer the chance to work on globally significant energy developments while building valuable international experience.

For operators and project developers, securing the right expertise will remain critical to delivering these complex projects safely and successfully.

With decades of experience supporting major oil, gas and LNG developments worldwide, Orion Group is well positioned to connect global energy talent with opportunities, as Mozambique’s LNG sector and Uganda’s oil and gas industry continue to expand. 

Looking to Work on Major LNG Projects?

As LNG developments across Africa continue to progress, the demand for experienced engineers, project specialists and technical professionals is growing rapidly.

If you are interested in opportunities on major energy projects in Mozambique LNG, Uganda or other global locations, Orion Group’s recruitment specialists can help you take the next step in your career.

For energy operators and contractors developing large-scale projects, Orion provides global workforce solutions covering recruitment, mobilisation, compliance, and contractor support.

Get in touch with Tom direct today, to discuss your workforce requirements or explore the latest energy employment opportunities worldwide.