Mozambique has laid the groundwork for French energy giant TotalEnergies to resume its \$20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
Energy Minister Estevão Pale confirmed on Monday that conditions were in place for the long-delayed development to restart following improved security.
Speaking at an event in Inhambane province, Pale cited President Daniel Chapo’s recent meeting with TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné as a turning point.
“It was a meeting with the perspective of restarting activities,” Pale said, adding that the government is actively working to accelerate the process.
TotalEnergies halted work in 2021 after an Islamic State-linked insurgency struck near its Afungi site in northern Mozambique.
Military interventions have since curbed—but not fully eliminated—attacks in the region, allowing cautious optimism to return.
Despite progress, TotalEnergies has not issued a public statement on the timing of the project’s reactivation.
The government, however, insists that all necessary security and logistical measures are being implemented to restore investor confidence.
TotalEnergies has previously stated it aims to restart operations by summer, pending improved stability and stakeholder assurances.
The LNG project is central to Mozambique’s economic future, holding the potential to transform it into a global gas exporter.
