The Mozambican government and TotalEnergies have announced the restart of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project that had stalled for about five years due to insecurity in Cabo Delgado province. ALSO READ: Rwanda-Mozambique ties evolve from security to multi-sector cooperation Security has returned in most parts of the province on the coast of the Indian Ocean, where Rwandan Security Forces and the Mozambican army have fought an insurgency that forced the $20 billion project to halt operations in 2021. Mozambican President Daniel Chapo and TotalEnergies chairman and chief executive Patrick Pouyanne announced the resumption of Mozambique LNG project on Thursday, January 29 after a meeting in Afungi, Palma District in Cabo Delgado. ALSO READ: Rwanda, Mozambique military generals meet as new agreement is inked in Kigali The restart follows a decision by the Mozambique LNG consortium on November 7, 2025, to lift the force majeure declared in 2021 amid deteriorating security conditions. The resumption of activities has been enabled by improved security in the region. Rwanda first deployed its security forces to Mozambique in July 2021, beginning in Palma, after a surge in insurgent violence forced the suspension of major economic activities, including the LNG project in Afungi. During the meeting, the Mozambican government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining security and continuing cooperation with Rwanda to safeguard the project’s operations. Construction activities have now resumed both onshore and offshore at the Afungi site, with more than 4,000 workers currently mobilised, over 3,000 of whom are Mozambican nationals. The project is about 40 per cent complete, with most engineering work and procurement of major equipment carried out during the force majeure period. First LNG production is expected in 2029, according to TotalEnergies. 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. President Chapo said. It will have a direct and significant impact on job creation, both in construction phase and in the operational phase, stimulating the national labor market and promoting the capacity-building of Mozambican manpower. He added that the resumption of the project restores confidence among international partners and strengthens Mozambique’s position as a regional energy hub and a player in the global LNG market. The project is expected to create up to 7,000 direct jobs for Mozambicans during peak construction, while contracts awarded to local companies are projected to exceed $4 billion under an ambitious local content programme.
