Mozambique has reportedly established the necessary conditions for TotalEnergies to restart its significant $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. This development follows a period of suspension due to security concerns in the northern Cabo Delgado province.
TotalEnergies had halted construction in 2021 after an attack by an Islamic State-linked insurgency near its Afungi site. The energy giant has since expressed its intention to resume development this summer, signaling a potential turning point for the large-scale venture.
Recent discussions underscore the progress made.
TotalEnergies’ CEO, Patrick Pouyanne, met with Mozambican President Daniel Chapo last Thursday to specifically address the project’s resumption. While security interventions have helped reduce insurgent activity, the threat has not been completely eliminated.
Estevao Pale, Mozambique’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, confirmed these discussions, stating, “It was a meeting with the perspective of restarting activities.”
Speaking from Inhambane province on Monday, Pale further emphasized the government’s commitment, noting, “At the government level, all the conditions are being created to allow investors to restart activities as quickly as possible.” TotalEnergies has not yet commented on the matter.