Extremist threats deal blow to Mozambique’s LNG plans

  • Date: 26-Apr-2021
  • Source: Arab Weekly
  • Sector:Economy
  • Country:Qatar
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Extremist threats deal blow to Mozambique’s LNG plans

PARIS – French energy group Total on Monday declared force majeure on its $20 billion Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in Mozambique and withdrew all personnel from the site after Islamic State-linked insurgent attacks last month.

Dozens of civilians were killed in March in the coastal Mozambique town of Palma, near gas projects worth $60 billion that are aimed to transform Mozambique's economy.

The attacks have dealt a blow to plans by Total and rival Exxon Mobil, which also has an LNG project in Mozambique, to turn the African nation into a major LNG producer to rival Australia, Qatar, Russia and the United States.

It also comes as major energy firms reassess their approach to LNG, once seen as a fuel of the future because it has lower emissions than coal or oil but now subject to re-evaluation in the drive to cut carbon emissions even more deeply.

“Considering the evolution of the security situation … Total confirms the withdrawal of all Mozambique LNG project personnel from the Afungi site. This situation leads Total, as operator of Mozambique LNG project, to declare force majeure,” the company said.

Total, which aimed to produce its first cargo from the project in 2024, suspended work on March 27