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Mozambique has considerable quantity of natural resources, of which the major part is yet to be explored. The Government of Mozambique is determined to extract and export its natural resource potential as soon as possible, supposing that this will positively contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction. However, any resources rich countries are among the poorest nations in the world, in spite of decennia-long exploration of their natural wealth. This so colled 'paradox of plenty' or 'resource curse' raises the question whether the foreseen exploration of natural resources in Mozambique will pose a serious threat rather than a blessing to its economic development. In this paper we first estimate the potential resource wealth of Mozambique in comparison to other countries. Next, we briefly review the rowing body of literature on the existence and determinants of a natural resource curse. Then we evaluate the risk of a resource curse to occur in Mozambique in the (near) future. Finally, we try to come up with suggestions to avert a Mozambican resource curse.