French energy giant TotalEnergies and the Mozambican government appear to be at odds over the security situation in Cabo Delgado, casting uncertainty over the timeline for restarting the country’s stalled $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
Speaking at the company’s Strategy and Outlook 2025 Investor Day in New York on 29 September, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné announced that the Mozambique LNG project—previously expected to resume in August 2025—will now be delayed until 2029.
He cited persistent security concerns in the northern province.
“The relaunch of a project of this scale requires strong alignment between the Mozambican government and investors,” Pouyanné said, stressing the need for firm guarantees of safety for personnel and infrastructure.
His comments stand in contrast to recent statements from Mozambican officials, including President Daniel Chapo, who have repeatedly claimed that the region is stabilising, crediting joint efforts by national forces and regional allies.
The government has actively promoted Cabo Delgado as secure enough for foreign investment, including large-scale energy infrastructure.
The multi-billion-dollar LNG project, located in Palma district and involving multiple international partners, has been on hold since April 2021 after armed insurgents attacked the town, prompting TotalEnergies to declare force majeure and evacuate staff.
Security situation remains fragile
Despite government assurances, recent reports suggest that security in Cabo Delgado has deteriorated.
Between August and September 2025, the province saw a renewed surge in attacks by non-state armed groups, including abductions, killings, looting, and destruction of homes and public infrastructure.
According to the latest UN update, more than 20,000 people (including 10,000 children) have been displaced in the past month alone.
While infrastructure improvements such as road construction and electrification projects have been undertaken in nearby villages, TotalEnergies has remained cautious.
Mozambique’s government, meanwhile, is pressing ahead with other gas ventures, including the $7.2 billion Coral Norte LNG project led by Italian firm Eni.
The company announced its final investment decision on the offshore development on Thursday, paving the way for its second major gas project in the country after Coral Sul.
Unlike TotalEnergies’ onshore facility, Coral Norte is located offshore, where security threats are considered minimal.
President Chapo, speaking at the Global Energy Alliance meeting in New York, pointed to Coral Norte’s progress as evidence of improving conditions.
In a potential shift, Upstream Online reports that Pouyanné recently stated “everything is ready” and suggested that the force majeure could be lifted in the coming days.
The disagreement between TotalEnergies and Mozambique’s leadership centres on a project expected to deliver 13 million tonnes of LNG annually.
The gas is expected to be exported to Europe, where countries continue to seek alternatives to Russian supply.
