By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

TOKYO, Japan – TotalEnergies anticipates that its estimated $20-billion Mozambique liquefied natural gas (LNG) project will resume development “this summer,” Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne announced on Wednesday. The optimistic forecast was shared during a session at the Japan Energy Summit in Tokyo, signaling a potential turning point for one of Africa’s largest energy ventures, which has been on hold since 2021.

The Mozambique LNG project was placed under force majeure in 2021 following insurgent attacks in the northern Cabo Delgado province. This suspension halted progress on a development critical to both Mozambique’s economic future and global gas supply diversification.

Pouyanne’s remarks align with previous statements made by the company in May, where an August 2025 restart was targeted. The project involves the development of the Golfinho and Atum natural gas fields within the Offshore Area 1 concession and the construction of a two-train liquefaction plant. Once operational, the facility is designed to produce 13.12 million metric tons of LNG annually.

TotalEnergies holds a 26.5% operating stake in the project, with other significant partners including Mitsui & Co (20%), Mozambique’s state-owned ENH (15%), Indian state firms, and Thailand’s PTTEP. The anticipated resumption comes as reports indicate an improving security situation in the northern Cabo Delgado region, which has been plagued by militant activity for several years.

A summer restart would mark a crucial milestone, potentially enabling the first LNG exports from the project later this decade. This development is also seen as reinforcing TotalEnergies’ position as a major global LNG supplier and demonstrating the company’s commitment to high-stakes energy investments in frontier markets. For Mozambique, the return of TotalEnergies and its international partners signals renewed investor confidence and the potential for long-term economic transformation driven by natural gas revenues. Sources