French energy major TotalEnergies has announced the full restart of activities at the Mozambique LNG project following a meeting on Thursday between chairman and chief executive Patrick Pouyanné and President Daniel Chapo in Afungi, Cabo Delgado province.
Pouyanné said construction at the liquefied natural gas project has now resumed both onshore and offshore, with more than 4,000 workers mobilised – over 3,000 of them Mozambican nationals.
“The full restart of project activities marks a major milestone for Mozambique LNG and the country. I want to thank President Chapo and all Mozambican authorities for their commitment to the project,” Pouyanné said.
Chapo welcomed the development and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting the project’s resumption, highlighting improved security conditions around the Afungi site, including continued cooperation with Rwandan forces.
“The resumption of the project represents a significant milestone for the national economy and reaffirms the confidence of international partners in Mozambique’s energy, institutional and human potential,” he said.
Security in Cabo Delgado has improved since 2021 although pockets of insurgent activity persist.
TotalEnergies said the project will generate up to 7,000 direct jobs for Mozambicans during construction and award more than $4 billion in contracts to local companies.
The company also highlighted ongoing community development efforts through the Mozambique LNG Foundation, which has a $200 million budget and has supported thousands of farmers, fishermen and small businesses in Cabo Delgado.
TotalEnergies said project progress stands at roughly 40 percent, with most engineering and procurement completed during the shutdown. First LNG is expected in 2029.
The move marks the most significant step towards reviving the $20 billion development since work was halted in April 2021 due to Islamist militant attacks in the region.
The restart follows the consortium’s decision in November 2025 to lift the force majeure declared four years earlier.
Mozambique LNG, led by TotalEnergies with a 26.5 percent stake, is one of Africa’s largest gas developments and is expected to produce 13 million tonnes of LNG annually.
The project is seen as transformative for Mozambique’s economy, with the government estimating potential lifetime revenues of up to $35 billion.
TotalEnergies has a 26.5 percent stake in the Mozambique LNG consortium. Japan’s Mitsui owns 20 percent, with ENH at 15 percent, and Bharat Petroleum, Oil India and ONGC Videsh all at 10 percent. Thailand’s PTTEP holds the remaining 8.5 percent stake.
JN/APA