TotalEnergies' head met Mozambique president with key gas project at stake

Mozambique president Filipe Jacinto Nyusi. Source: Mandel Ngan/Pool via Reuters

The French company said on Friday that its chairman and chief executive Patrick Pouyanne had visited the Cabo Delgado area to review the security and humanitarian situation and that Pouyanne had met the Mozambique president during his trip.

TotalEnergies added it had entrusted Jean-Christophe Rufin, whom it said was an expert in humanitarian action and human rights, with an independent mission to assess the humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado province.

TotalEnergies aims to restart $20bn Mozambique LNG project in 2022

Emma Rumney  1 Feb 2022

Force majeure

TotalEnergies' Mozambique LNG project, valued at $20bn, had to declare 'force majeure' in 2021 due to regional unrest after an insurgent group linked to Islamic State attacked the northern town of Palma.

Force majeure is a clause in contracts that allows parties to walk away when circumstances beyond their control occur, such as terrorist attacks.
"Since 2021, the situation in Cabo Delgado province has improved significantly, thanks in particular to the support provided by the African countries that committed themselves to restore peace and security," Pouyanné said in a statement.

"The mission entrusted to Jean-Christophe Rufin should enable Mozambique LNG's partners to assess whether the current situation allows for a resumption of activities while respecting human rights," he added.