TotalEnergies restarted the construction of its large gas project in northern Mozambique, ending a five-year shutdown triggered by a jihadist attack that killed hundreds of people.
The Mozambique LNG project, widely regarded as Africa’s largest private energy investment, is expected to create thousands of jobs and position Mozambique as a major global exporter of liquefied natural gas.
At a ceremony near the project site in Cabo Delgado, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne confirmed the restart. The province has faced ongoing insurgency for nearly eight years.
Pouyanne said he was pleased to confirm the project’s full restart and announced that the force majeure declaration had officially ended. President Daniel Chapo attended the event.
TotalEnergies halted the $20 billion project near the Tanzanian border after a 2021 attack that reportedly killed about 800 people.
Pouyanne said more than 4,000 workers are currently on site, with Mozambicans making up 80 percent of the workforce. TotalEnergies holds a 26.5 percent stake in the LNG consortium.
He added that the project would strengthen global energy supply by opening up a new production region.
In October, TotalEnergies lifted the force majeure it imposed after the violence. The company is now seeking $4.5 billion in compensation from the Mozambican government to cover costs linked to the delay.
The company is also requesting a 10-year extension to its concession, more than twice the length of the shutdown. Authorities in Maputo have not yet indicated whether they will approve the request.
President Chapo described the restart as a moment of pride for Mozambique, Africa, and the international community. He said it showed the country’s ability to recover from setbacks and rebuild investor confidence.
The TotalEnergies project is one of several gas developments in Cabo Delgado. Other projects in the area involve Italy’s ENI and US-based ExxonMobil.
According to a 2024 Deloitte report, Mozambique’s gas reserves could place the country among the world’s top 10 natural gas producers, accounting for about 20 percent of Africa’s output by 2040.
The consortium behind the project initially secured $15.4 billion in financing from 30 lenders. However, in December 2025, the UK and the Netherlands withdrew support, including $1.15 billion pledged by Britain through its export credit agency.
Following the withdrawals, TotalEnergies said the remaining partners had agreed unanimously to inject additional equity to keep the project moving.
source: www.theafricareport.com
African Energy Council