Mozambican Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Augusto Fernando has said natural gas produced in Mozambique has the potential to meet between 45 percent and 50 percent of domestic demand for energy in the next four years, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese state-run news agency quotes Mr Fernando as telling a conference in Maputo that since 2012 the sources of energy used by Mozambique have changed substantially.

Before, he said, hydroelectric power stations were the principal source of electricity produced in Mozambique. Nowadays, he added, gas-fired power stations generated 30 percent of electricity produced.

Several more gas-fired power stations are due to begin producing electricity in the next few years, and this may greatly improve energy security in Mozambique, Xinhua quotes the official as saying.