France’s TotalEnergies has announced it will lift the suspension of its $20-billion Mozambique LNG project halted since 2021. The freeze followed a deadly jihadist attack near the Tanzanian border, which killed around 800 people and shook the region.
TotalEnergies said Mozambique’s government must approve the resumption before work can officially restart, notifying President Daniel Chapo on Friday. The project, Africa’s largest private energy investment, promises thousands of jobs and aims to make Mozambique a top LNG exporter.
No attacks of similar magnitude have occurred since 2021, yet the UN reported 633 assaults against civilians across the country this year. Chapo, visiting the United States Saturday, planned to meet ExxonMobil executives, whose own gas project in Mozambique remains under review.
ExxonMobil’s local chief said in September that the US company’s Rovuma LNG decision is linked to TotalEnergies lifting its suspension. The French firm leads the Mozambique LNG consortium with a 26.5 percent stake, aiming to deliver first shipments four years after restart.
Estimates from the African Development Bank suggest Mozambique holds over five trillion cubic metres of gas, enough to supply Europe for two decades. Analysts say the restart could signal renewed confidence in Mozambique’s energy sector despite ongoing security threats and regional instability.
